About Hades
Hades is a modern mining company on a mission to transform how the world accesses critical resources and energy. Founded in 2025, we’re developing ultra-deep laser drilling technologies that push the limits of what’s possible underground. Based in Munich, we’ve raised over €20M in funding from leading European resilience investors including HV Capital, Headline, Project A and Visionaries Tomorrow. We’re now building a world-class team to bring this vision to life.Why Join Hades?
- At Hades, you'll be part of a high-growth, high-impact deep-tech startup making a tangible difference. Our mission is critical: to secure sovereignty for Europe through the responsible and efficient extraction of vital materials and energy. We offer:
- Impactful Work: Contribute directly to solving global challenges related to resource scarcity and energy independence.
- Cutting-Edge Technology: Work at the forefront of ultra-deep drilling, leveraging advanced engineering and innovative approaches.
- Growth Potential: Join a rapidly expanding company with significant opportunities for personal and professional development.
- Dynamic Environment: Thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and entrepreneurial setting in the heart of Munich.
- Purpose-Driven Mission: Be part of a team dedicated to a sustainable and secure future for Europe.
The Role
As a Fibre Optics Engineer at Hades, you will own the high-power fibre optic subsystems at the heart of Cerberus, our fibre laser drilling system. Working hands-on in the lab, you'll optimise laser transmission through optical fibre for a downhole assembly — pushing power, efficiency, and reliability at the leading edge of high-power photonics. This is a foundational role with direct ownership over fibre integration, working closely with the optics, mechanical, and systems engineering teams to take our laser delivery system from lab prototype to field-ready hardware.Responsibilities
- Undertake experimental work to optimise laser transmission through optical fibres for use in a downhole assembly
- Help develop and verify models and fibre metrology approaches to characterise high-power fibre performance
- Work hands-on in the lab with high-power fibre optics (CW, 100 W+), free-space optical components, and hollow-core / photonic crystal fibres
- Couple laser sources into optical fibres and optimise coupling efficiency
- Run Zemax / FEM simulations of high-power fibre propagation to support design and troubleshooting
- Collaborate closely with other engineering teams within the company to integrate fibre subsystems into the full prototype device
Qualifications
We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled individual who possesses:
Background
- Master's degree or PhD, or significant hands-on experience, in high-power optical fibre environments and assembly of fibre optic components
Essential
- High-power experience (CW, 100 W+)
- Competent with free-space optical components
- Experience with hollow-core and photonic crystal fibres
- Lab experience working with high-power fibre optics
- Experience coupling into optical fibres
- Zemax / FEM simulations of high-power fibre propagation
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
- Willing to reside in the greater Munich area
Desirable
- Mitigation of non-linear effects in fibre
- Knowledge of fibre coatings and different fibre materials
- Splicing and fibre handling
- Experience working in clean rooms
- Fibre cabling
- Fibre arrays
- Knowledge of fibre endcaps
Why Hades?
We offer- An opportunity to make a huge impact on the future of Europe by increasing resilience and providing a path to resource and energy sovereignty
- A senior role with real ownership: you will shape the mechanical engineering function of a deep-tech company from its early days
- A human-centered company culture with super nice and supportive colleagues
- A great sense of community through team events and fun in and outside the office
- Highly competitive compensation, benefits and equity package