Controls and Protection Systems Engineer, SSRL

About the role

Join the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory as a controls and protection systems engineer, working at the intersection of hardware, software, and beamline science. You will solve complex technical problems in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment where engineering decisions directly enable breakthrough research on cutting-edge experimental instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Operational Support: Participate in a shared on-call responsibility to provide 24/7 support for critical Protection Systems, primarily during beam operations. Work closely with accelerator physics, operations, vacuum, controls, and experimental systems groups to ensure protection systems meet the evolving needs of SSRL's scientific user program.
• Troubleshooting, Repair, and Validation: Troubleshoot, repair, and validate protection system interlocks alongside motion control, data acquisition, and specialized synchrotron radiation instrumentation to minimize downtime for the SSRL scientific user program.
• Commissioning & Testing: Assist with the development of test procedures and with testing of interlock chains during maintenance shutdowns to verify that logic correctly inhibits beam operation under fault conditions.
• Systems Design: Develop motion control systems and specialized experimental instrumentation, collaboratively with a group of scientists and technical staff. Research and specify components such as stages, motors, drivers, and encoders.
• Project Supervision: Follow through on instrumentation development and installation projects from initial concept through design review sessions, culminating with directing electronics and mechanical technicians in the fabrication and installation of novel devices. Schedule fabrication and coordinate activities to ensure project deadlines are met on time.
• Operator Interfaces: Develop and maintain production-level HMIs, GUIs, and operator dashboards for protection systems, motion control, and experimental instrumentation, enabling effective monitoring and control by operators, scientists, and engineering staff.
• Engineering Documentation: Produce and maintain system documentation - interlock logic, I/O lists, test procedures, configuration records, and operational notes - keeping it current through upgrade, commissioning, and troubleshooting activities. Apply configuration management, version control, and formal change control to safety-critical protection systems in accordance with the SLAC Conduct of Engineering.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related engineering discipline, and a minimum of 2 years of experience.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex systems, particularly in "mixed-technology" environments where state-of-the-art and legacy equipment co-exist.
• Experience documenting engineering changes and writing standard operating procedures (SOPs) or comparable technical documentation (design docs, runbooks, API references).
• Experience developing operator interfaces (HMIs, GUIs, or dashboards) for engineering or scientific systems, using Python or comparable languages and frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to design motion control systems.
• Experience in the design of electrical conditioning circuits is required, such as for optical switches, incremental and absolute encoders, x-ray ionization chambers, and PIN diode detectors.
• Comfortable working in Linux command-line environments; familiarity with standard scientific computing and office tools.
• Effective communication skills across multidisciplinary teams, including scientific, engineering, and operations-focused personnel.
• Willingness to provide occasional 24/7 support for assigned systems.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field.
• Experience working in an accelerator or scientific facility.
• Experience integrating controls and data-acquisition software (e.g., EPICS, Python) with beam diagnostics, motion control, digitizers, radiation monitors, vacuum instrumentation, and related subsystems.
• Experience with use of Galil digital motion controllers and EPICS for classical stepper motors, IMS stepper motors, and brushless servo-motors is highly advantageous.
• Knowledge of embedded systems development and FPGA programming of Xilinx Spartan chips with VHDL and/or Modelsim is highly advantageous.
• Use of Protel schematic capture and PCB payout software for SMT and through-hole components is advantageous.

Skills

• Ability to troubleshoot complex systems, particularly in mixed-technology environments.
• Experience with Python or similar languages and frameworks for developing operator interfaces.
• Experience designing motion control systems.
• Experience with electrical conditioning circuits, including optical switches, incremental and absolute encoders, x-ray ionization chambers, and PIN diode detectors.
• Familiarity with Linux command-line environments and standard scientific computing and office tools.
• Effective communication skills across multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to develop and maintain system documentation.

Benefits

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory/Stanford University provides a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. Please refer to the Employee Handbook for details.

Pay

The expected pay range for this position is $134,906 - $164,965 per annum. Please note that the actual salary offered will be determined based on factors such as 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.

Schedule

Regular continuing position with occasional 24/7 support for assigned systems.