Senior Source Scientist (control electronics)

ZEISS Group•Dublin, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Source Scientist leads research, prototyping, and quantitative characterization of next generation X-ray source technologies with a specialized focus on high voltage (HV) electronics, precision power delivery, and closed loop control systems. This role emphasizes the design and optimization of high voltage electron-optical subsystems, power electronics architectures, and real-time control strategies that ensure stable, high performance X-ray generation. You will define the technical agenda for HV subsystem development—covering emission power supplies, control firmware, beam stabilization electronics, and advanced diagnostic and protection circuits. Your contributions will directly advance source reliability, stability, spectral quality, lifetime, and integration into next generation X-ray microscopy platforms.

Requirements

PhD or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field with specialization in high voltage electronics, power systems, embedded control, or charged particle devices.
Demonstrated experience designing or modeling HV power supplies, precision analog circuits, control systems, or radiation source electronics.
Hands-on experience with prototype electronics development, test automation, HV diagnostics, and control system characterization.
Fluency in English is required, including technical terms.
Ability to work with and understand the work product of team members from all R&D-related departments, as well as Manufacturing and Marketing.
Exceptional communication skills to resolve technical challenges between mechanical, electrical and software engineering, advanced development, manufacturing and marketing.

Nice To Haves

Experience with electron guns, electron-optical lenses, vacuum devices, or Xray generation strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Design, model, and validate high voltage power supplies, emission drivers, and beam control electronics (20–200 kV typical range).
Develop fast response power conditioning and filtering architectures to ensure beam stability, low ripple, and precise emission control.
Architect fault tolerant HV systems including arc detection, soft-start strategies, protection circuits, and thermal limit handling.
Collaborate with electrical and safety teams to ensure compliance with HV safety standards, insulation requirements, and regulatory constraints.
Design closed loop control algorithms for electron-beam current, voltage regulation, spot stabilization, and thermal management.
Develop embedded control firmware, FPGA/MCU logic, and diagnostic interfaces for real-time monitoring of HV subsystems.
Integrate sensor networks (current monitors, thermal sensors, vacuum gauges, X-ray detectors) into robust, intelligent control architectures.
Prototype advanced stabilization techniques such as active feedback loops, feed‑forward compensation, and predictive control models.
Work with electron-optics designers to ensure HV architectures and control systems support optimal beam formation, focusing, and landing characteristics.
Model high voltage interactions affecting electron target performance, including emission stability, energy deposition, and degradation pathways.
Support the development of target assemblies compatible with advanced HV control schemes and high-power deposition scenarios.
Lead the build and validation of HV electronic assemblies, control boards, interlocks, high voltage feedthroughs, and diagnostic systems.
Conduct quantitative testing of power supply performance, stability under load, noise spectra, transient behavior, and feedback loop response.
Collaborate with mechanical, software, and system engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of HV and control subsystems into full X-ray instruments.
Own HV electronics and control system projects from concept through prototype demonstration, including planning, risk analysis, and reporting.
Mentor engineers and interns in power electronics design, embedded controls, and instrumentation physics.
Drive innovation by identifying emerging HV technologies, advanced control architectures, and strategic opportunities for differentiation.