Controls and Protection Systems Engineer, SSRL

SLAC Job Postings

Position Overview

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.

This role balances operational support and system engineering: you will join the team that maintains the existing protection systems, keeping this world-class particle accelerator facility running, while also developing motion control and safety systems for advanced scientific experimental equipment. Alongside the hardware work, you will build the software, automation, and operator interfaces (HMIs, GUIs, and dashboards) that scientists and operators rely on to run experiments. You will help ensure that personnel, the storage ring, and the advanced scientific instrumentation that depends on it are protected, critical to enabling the high-impact research performed by SSRL's international research community.

Your specific responsibilities include:

• 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.
• Facility Support: 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.

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• 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.

In addition, preferred requirements include:

• 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.

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 delivering 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 and maintains an open outlook while adjusting and accommodating changes.
• Communication: Ensures effective information flow to various audiences and creates and delivers clear, appropriate 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 the job.

Work Standards :

• 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:
• 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,
• As a national laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

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• Classification Title: Staff Engineer 2
• Grade: K Job Code: 0132
• Duration: Regular continuing

The expected pay range for this position is $134,906 - $164,965 per annum. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory/Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. 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. At SLAC/Stanford, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package.