Safety Systems Engineer

About the Role

The Experiment Control Systems (ECS) division within the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) Directorate at SLAC is seeking a Laser Safety Systems Engineer to exercise responsibility for SLAC and LCLS Laser Safety Systems. The LCLS Laser Engineering Department is responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of Laser Systems throughout the SLAC complex. The candidate will concentrate on the specification, hardware and software design, and implementation of all Laser Safety Systems at the Lab.

The successful candidate will establish performance criteria, evaluate system architecture, design, validate, document, implement, and exercise stewardship for the Laser Safety Systems. As the safety system engineer, you will perform project management and engineering work of considerable scope and complexity, often challenging and difficult with considerable technical independence. You will collaborate with LCLS and SLAC staff of diverse technical backgrounds to find solutions to challenging engineering problems and work with other engineers, engineering associates, and technicians to support safety systems implementations and best practices while maintaining and upgrading subsystems assigned.

This position reports to the Laser Engineering Department Head. Learn more about LCLS and the unique capabilities of our instrument facilities.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain PLC and wired interlock-based Safety Systems, ranging from relay-based interlock to legacy PLC installations, to modern industry standard PLC implementations.
• Design, review, plan, and implement upgrades to systems owned by the Laser Safety Program to maintain a high level of user availability.
• Collaborate with other related SLAC safety systems groups.
• Assure rigorous work planning and control are in place, including: project planning, requirements gathering, design reviews, soft/firmware version control, test procedures, and management reports.
• Exercise stewardship of LSS (Laser Safety Systems).
• Plan and implement upgrades to be the least invasive to 24/7 operations, with consideration of limited resources.
• Communicate with people from all disciplines: Physicists, scientists, duty operators, electrical and mechanical engineers, electronic and network technicians.
• Hold and participate in safety systems reviews.
• Provide occasional 24/7 support for systems owned by the Laser Engineering Group.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Computer Engineering and 5 years of experience.
• PLC-based interlock system design, implementation, and support.
• Hardware experience using various PLC-specific system designs.
• Hardware experience using fault-tolerant, standard program PLC and HMI & GUI designs.
• Proficiency reading electrical schematics and troubleshooting systems.
• Proactivity in creating and maintaining documentation related to projects, software, user guides, and how-tos.
• Ability to lead and direct multiple complex projects requiring high levels of functional integration.
• Experience with version control systems, particularly Git, and collaborative development workflows.
• Experience performing end-to-end ownership of tasks, including project management, schedule, and stakeholder management.
• Experience working in cross-disciplinary teams or environments.
• Effective communication (written and verbal).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing, engineering, and implementing safety instrumented systems in alignment with functional safety standards.
• Experience with relay logic implementation.
• Experience with Structured Text programming of PLCs.
• Python, Linux, and EPICS (Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System) experience.
• PLC interface and control software for: Shutters, interlocks, and standalone HMI interface panels.
• M.Sc. in Computer Engineering/Science, Physical Science, or a closely related field.

About Us

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory explores how the universe works at the biggest, smallest, and fastest scales and invents powerful tools used by researchers around the globe. As world leaders in ultrafast science and bold explorers of the physics of the universe, we forge new ground in understanding our origins and building a healthier and more sustainable future. Our discovery and innovation help develop new materials and chemical processes and open unprecedented views of the cosmos and life’s most delicate machinery.

Building on more than 60 years of visionary research, we help shape the future by advancing areas such as quantum technology, scientific computing, and the development of next-generation accelerators. SLAC is operated by Stanford University for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.