Focused
Principal Software Engineer
Austin, TX · Hybrid · Principal · Full-time · Posted Sep 23, 2026
About the job
Defines and implements the Core Software architecture that integrates and operates a laser-driven fusion power plant.
What you'll do
- Own end-to-end architecture for device interfaces, calibration, data systems, and operator interfaces.
- Implement critical software components and reliable automated calibration workflows.
- Set engineering standards, lead technical decisions, and mentor engineers across teams.
What they ask for
- Extensive experience designing control software for complex physical or industrial systems, including hardware/software interfaces and system-level troubleshooting.
- Experience designing and implementing automated calibration facilities or workflows, data handling and storage, and HMI.
- Strong software design and implementation skills in C++, Python, or similar languages, and ability to architect complex mission-critical systems.
- Experience applying testing, observability, reliability, fault tolerance, security, and documentation practices; strong communication and leadership skills.
Nice to have
- Experience in plasma, nuclear power, high-energy physics, or scientific facilities; real-time or distributed control systems and high-throughput data acquisition.
- Experience with shared frameworks or architecture reviews; fluency with AI-assisted software development or enthusiasm for approved AI tools.
Tools
C++, Python
AI focus
AI-assisted software development is a nice-to-have, with responsible use of approved AI tools to improve quality and delivery.
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative