Controls and Data Systems Engineer Job ID 6214 Location SLAC - Menlo Park, CA Full-Time Regular **SLAC Job Postings** **Position overview:** Do you enjoy collaborating with a diverse group of people to solve complex challenges? Does contributing to breakthrough discoveries in science and working with unique experimental instrumentation in a world-leading scientific research environment excite you? The Experiment Control Systems (ECS) division within the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) Directorate at SLAC is seeking a Controls and Data Systems Engineer to design, implement, and support hardware and software solutions for commercial and highly custom scientific devices in one of several experiment halls (also known as instruments). Working with scientific and engineering staff, your solutions will provide highly reliable system operation and kHz rate data collection, supporting groundbreaking scientific research conducted by our international user community. Reporting to the ECS Controls and Data Systems Department Head, you will be a member of a multidisciplinary engineering group focused on delivering and supporting software and hardware solutions for scientific instrumentation, laser systems, controls, and data acquisition systems. In this position, you will also work with scientific and operations support staff to advance scientific instrumentation capabilities. LCLS hosts the world's first hard x-ray free electron laser (XFEL) with unprecedented capabilities in photon energy range, peak power, and pulse lengths. There are nine independent instruments currently in operation, specifically designed to utilize the exceptional beam characteristics of the XFEL to probe the structure and dynamics of matter at atomic size and timescales. You will be assigned as the controls and data system owner for one of these instruments, supporting and evolving its technology platforms as we continue to extend the atomic resolution of our XFEL and increase the data collection rates into the MHz regime. See https://lcls.slac.stanford.edu/ for more on LCLS and the unique capabilities of our instrument facilities. **Your specific responsibilities include:** + Plan, implement, and validate customized experiment system installations. + Reconfigure hardware and software to meet experiment needs; develop software for data analysis, data acquisition, controls, and to support new instrumentation. + Manage hardware and software for the controls, data acquisition, and data-analysis systems and related infrastructure such as computers and local networks, x-ray detector systems, digitizers, scopes, cameras, power supplies, motion systems, vacuum and PLC systems, etc. + Participate in upgrades to scientific instrumentation and capabilities including laser systems, timing systems, hardware and software selection, and coordinate with engineers and technicians to implement and integrate the control, data acquisition, and analysis aspects of these upgrades. + Report on, prioritize, and address reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) issues impacting instrument operation. **Work with unique instrumentation and electronics systems such as** + Sample delivery systems. + Peta-Watt laser systems. + Femtosecond timing systems. + X-ray sensitive CCD cameras and detectors. + Machine and human protection systems. **To be successful in this position you will bring:** + Bachelor's degree in physics, computer science, engineering or related discipline and 2 years of relevant experience in experimental process, data analysis design and development of prototypes, scientific instrumentation and/or systems. Advanced degree strongly preferred. + Ability to learn and understand the workings of a broad range of hardware and software. + Demonstrated programming skills with C and/or C++ and experience with Linux/Unix and a scripting language such as (and preferably) Python. + Exceptional communications skills and ability to work well in a research and development team. + Demonstrated project leadership, planning, and excellent organizational skills. + Ability to understand the basic functionality and scientific purpose of each part of the x-ray science instrument. **In addition, preferred requirements include:** + Real-time and networking software, familiarity with EPICS framework, knowledge of motor, vacuum and camera controls. + Developing scientific instrumentation, laser and laser diagnostic systems. + Background in x-ray or material science. **SLAC Employee Competencies:** + Effective Decisions: Uses job knowledge and solid judgment to make quality decisions in a timely manner. + Self-Development: Pursues a variety of venues and opportunities to continue learning and developing. + Dependability: Can be counted on to deliver results with a sense of personal responsibility for expected outcomes. + Initiative: Pursues work and interactions proactively with optimism, positive energy, and motivation to move things forward. + Adaptability: Flexes as needed when change occurs, maintains an open outlook while adjusting and accommodating changes. + Communication: Ensures effective information flow to various audiences and creates and delivers clear, appropriate written, spoken, presented messages. + Relationships: Builds relationships to foster trust, collaboration, and a positive climate to achieve common goals. **Physical requirements and Working conditions:** + Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job. + Given the nature of this position, SLAC will require onsite work. **Work Standard:** + Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations. + Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for environment, safety and security; communicates related concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Meets the applicable roles and responsibilities as described in the ESH Manual, Chapter 1¿General Policy and Responsibilities: http://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/pdfs/ESHch01.pdf + Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu ------------------------- + Classification Title: Staff Engineer + Grade: K, Job Code: 0132 + Duration: Regular Continuing _The expected pay range for this position is $116,000 to $170,000 per annum. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory/Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs._ SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer and supports diversity in the workplace. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital or family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information. All staff at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory must be able to demonstrate the legal right to work in the United States. SLAC is an E-Verify employer.