Laser Safety Industrial Controls Engineer - LCLS

Job ID

5903

Location

SLAC - Menlo Park, CA

Full-Time

Regular

SLAC Job Postings

Position overview:

The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) is an internationally preeminent science facility, operated by Stanford University at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory on behalf of the Department of Energy, Office of Science. This facility provides world-leading scientific capabilities to a global user community, covering a very broad research portfolio that includes the development of advanced materials and chemical catalysts for clean energy systems; drug discovery for modern pharmaceuticals; and fundamental studies of astrophysical phenomena.

SLAC LCLS is seeking industrial controls engineer to support the design and infrastructure of laser safety systems (LSS). Laser safety systems at SLAC are an essential human safety system that controls access to laser hazards, provide warning devices for indicating laser system status, and coordinates permissions and controls for safety shutters and laser power supplies. Lasers at LCLS are used in nearly all scientific experiment configurations as well as for the generation of electrons for the accelerator itself. A successful candidate will collaborate with the existing laser safety experts to develop, design, and document qualified systems, procure and stage installations, oversee initial acceptance, and maintain existing systems.

Major upgrades to LCLS are currently underway, representing well over a billion dollars of investment. Over the next five years, LCLS will design and deliver a new suite of science instruments to transform this field, taking advantage of the orders-of-magnitude increase in X-ray beam power as the pulse repetition rate is increased from 120 pulses/second to 1 million/second. This drives the need for entirely new capabilities in X-ray optics, beam diagnostics, cryogenics, ultra-high vacuum assemblies, and precision opto-mechanical systems. In addition, a major multi-year project is underway to upgrade the LCLS facility with a Petawatt laser, enabling high peak power optical and x-ray photons to combine on target, providing world-leading capabilities in the field of fusion science.

Your specific responsibilities include:

• Contribute to the development, definition, and generation of detailed requirement documents, machine parameter tables, physics, engineering, technical, and functional specifications, interface control documentation, and all other project documentation.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of risk management activities

• Work with Senior Engineers to monitor performance and deliverables.

• Support project interface management.

• Work with Senior Engineers to ensure configuration management activities are effective and comply with project guidance and requirements.

• Maintain an environment conducive to openness, collaboration, and respect for all.

• Contribute to the preparation for installation, installation planning and design, installation, and equipment and system commissioning.

• Provide technical and administrative oversight for laser safety systems within the LCLS directorate.

• Drive LCLS laser safety system requests from the concept of operations through design review, build, and qualification.

• Generate engineering artifacts, including (not limited) engineering specifications, procedures, block diagrams, wiring diagrams, flowcharts, logic tables, din-rail assembly diagrams, and electrical schematics.

• Develop, review, and conduct functional acceptance tests.

• Ensure existing LCLS laser safety systems are re-qualified periodically together with the SLAC Laser Safety Officer.

• Prioritize and carry out requests for system reconfiguration or modification and requalification.

• Review laser safety system implementation and related documentation to assess, track, and trend compliance with and the effectiveness of the laser safety program.

• Direct technician work for installation, maintenance, and documentation of LCLS laser safety systems.

• Design small mechanical assemblies for mechatronic components.

• Complete functional safety analyses.

• Advanced verbal and written communication skills necessary to collaborate in a team environment.

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• A bachelor's degree in mechatronics, electrical/ electronic/ embedded systems engineering, mechanical engineering, or a comparable field.

• Minimum of 2 years of industry experience developing and maintaining industrial control systems.

• PLC/ladder logic and safety systems engineering experience.

• Electronics design experience, including IC and component selection and PCB layout using PCB CAD software.

• Strong troubleshooting skills for control system issues.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Mechatronics curriculum with projects involving motor control and sensor integration.

• A solid understanding of analog and digital hardware development and validation techniques.

• Experience in troubleshooting hardware issues during the testing phase of integrated designs.

• Advanced verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment to present and explain moderately complex technical or operational information.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficient with IEC-61131-3, ST, and Ladder Logic.

• Experience with EPLAN schematic capture.

• Proficiency with CAD or Altium for PCB layout.

• Experience with functional safety system design: IEC 61508 or equivalent.

• Familiarity with NFPA 70E.

• Knowledge of RFID and badging systems.

• Project management skills, including estimating and scheduling using Gantt charts.

• Experience using git, SVN, or other version control systems.

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 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: 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 2

• Job Code: 0132, Grade: K

• Duration: Regular continuing

The expected pay range for this position is $108,000 - $163,000 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.