What would be the best software to place together a tessellation for laser cutting

You could use this method in Illustrator:

1. create a shape like this with your symbol

2. Crop the selected area.

3. select your croped object and go to Pattern Options (Window>Pattern Options)

once the Pattern option tab opens up click the waffle and select Make Pattern

4. A windows will pop up where you can navigate how the pattern should flow, also you can make the changes while preview the pattern.

Once you happy with all the alignments, on the top left corner press Done ( This will save your patter in the Swatches tab)

After all this you can select any shape tool and use the swatch to put in your pattern. Once thats done you have to Expand it by Selecting the object and Object>Expand..

Cropping

1. select a Rectangle tool (Press M)

2. Create the shape you want it to be cropped. Make sure the shape has
   no stroke.

3. Select all layers and in Pathfinder (Windows>PathFinder) click the crop button.

Voila

Hope it was helpful