Diagnostics Scientist/Engineer

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory • Berkeley, CA

1d • $150,696 - $210,972 • Onsite

About The Position

The Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a Diagnostics Scientist/Engineer to develop and support state-of-the-art beam diagnostics, electronic instrumentation, and data acquisition systems for particle accelerators and other scientific applications. The role bridges beam measurement needs and accelerator physics, contributing across system life cycles from conceptualization and design through integration, commissioning, and operational support.

The position works closely with Accelerator Physics to establish priorities and long-term goals, and with Accelerator Controls to integrate and support production diagnostic and instrumentation systems within the ALS Control System. It participates in core ALS Accelerator Physics Group activities while serving as a technical bridge to the Accelerator Diagnostics and Instrumentation Group. Work includes accelerator measurements, diagnostic and feedback system development, software and simulation, technical documentation, proposal preparation, and communicating results through presentations and publications.

The ALS is a DOE Office of Science national scientific user facility at Berkeley Lab. It produces soft and hard x-rays, ultraviolet, and infrared light, and is undertaking ALS-U, a major upgrade to a fourth-generation light source. The appointment is a full-time career position, exempt from overtime pay, and work will be primarily performed onsite at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in Berkeley, California.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in physics, electrical engineering, software development, computer systems, or equivalent experience.
• At least 4 years of relevant professional experience beyond a Master’s degree.
• Demonstrated ability to independently carry out creative research within an established framework.
• Ability to apply advanced physics, general engineering, and electrical principles, theories, and concepts.
• Ability to learn new principles and concepts and apply them to complex diagnostics and instrumentation problems.
• Experience developing software applications for data acquisition and simulation of diagnostics and/or feedback systems.
• Experience with programming languages and platforms commonly used in particle accelerators and light-source storage rings, such as Python and MATLAB.
• Experience developing and implementing accelerator beam diagnostics and instrumentation systems.
• Demonstrated ability to address complex problems through data analysis and thorough evaluation.
• Ability to independently select relevant and appropriate methods and processes to complete tasks.
• Knowledge of project engineering, requirements, specifications, and design.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to interact effectively with experts across multiple disciplines, including electronics engineering and technical support, mechanical engineering, accelerator physics, operations, external partners, and senior ALS management.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.

Nice To Haves

• PhD degree in physics or electrical engineering.
• At least 4 years of experience in beam diagnostics and instrumentation.
• Understanding of advanced feedback and control theory, including design principles.
• Knowledge of storage ring beam dynamics and accelerator physics.
• Knowledge of accelerator control systems, particularly EPICS.
• Demonstrated experience supervising technical support staff.
• Familiarity with analog, RF, and digital FPGA-based electronic designs.
• Experience with Altium PCB Design Software.
• Experience with Keysight ADS and Ansys HFSS system simulation software.
• Experience with embedded processor or System-On-Chip FPGA systems.
• Experience with commercial network analyzers, data acquisition systems, frequency synthesizers, and oscilloscopes.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to developing state-of-the-art diagnostic, electronic instrumentation, and data acquisition systems for particle accelerators.
• Apply accelerator physics and electrical system design principles, practices, standards, and research techniques to technical problems in accelerator diagnostics and instrumentation.
• Collaborate and communicate with engineers, scientists, graduate students, postdocs, technicians, operators, and administrative staff.
• Work with Accelerator Physics to set priorities and long-term goals supporting current and future operational requirements and capabilities.
• Work with Accelerator Controls to integrate and support production diagnostic and instrumentation systems in the ALS Control System.
• Participate in core ALS Accelerator Physics Group activities and serve as a technical bridge to the Accelerator Diagnostics and Instrumentation Group.
• Perform developmental work, characterization measurements, machine studies, and diagnostic and feedback system specification and development.
• Design and simulate diagnostic system architectures and cabling, and specify, design, and simulate sensors and actuators.
• Develop software for test and measurement equipment, simulation, data acquisition, and data analysis.
• Plan and carry out complex accelerator measurements using diagnostic instrumentation.
• Develop techniques and instrumentation to measure beam parameters.
• Perform work across project phases, including design, implementation, review, integration, testing, commissioning, and operational support.
• Contribute to documentation, baseline data, and operating and maintenance procedures.
• Support preparation of proposals, including technical concepts, budgets, and schedules.
• Document ongoing and completed work, present results at conferences and workshops, and publish in relevant journals.

Benefits

• Exceptional health and retirement benefits, including pension or 401K-style plans.
• Tuition Assistance Program.
• Vacation and sick time.
• Annual Winter Holiday Shutdown.
• Parental bonding leave for mothers and fathers.
• Pet insurance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior