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Optical-Electrical Engineering Group Leader

Job ID

6523

Location

SLAC - Menlo Park, CA

Full-Time

Regular

SLAC Job Postings

Position Overview:

The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) Engineering Division at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is seeking an engineering technical manager to lead the Laser Engineering Department¿s Precision Timing and Synchronization Group.

LCLS is the world¿s first X-ray Free Electron (FEL) facility, operated by Stanford University at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, on behalf of the Department of Energy / Office of Science. This facility offers world-leading scientific capabilities to a global user community, encompassing a 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.

LCLS operates as a user facility for a global community of scientists, providing ultrashort, ultra-bright pulses of X-rays to seven experimental instruments focused on specific areas of science. These instruments probe the structure and dynamics of matter at the atomic spatial scale and femtosecond timescale. Femtosecond optical lasers are an integral part of many of these experiments, and the LCLS Laser Engineering Department is responsible for deploying and supporting cutting-edge laser systems for groundbreaking scientific research at LCLS. The cornerstone of our experimental capabilities is to use these lasers coupled with the X-rays to perform pump-probe experiments, where we pump a sample with our ultrafast lasers and probe with the X-ray FEL. The Precision Timing & Synchronization group in Laser Engineering is responsible for synchronizing and timing our ultrafast lasers with the XFEL. This includes operational support, new system delivery, and improvement programs through research and development.

The evolution of the facility and its experimental capabilities, including the upgrade to the X-ray FEL source, the experimental instruments, and the addition of a Petawatt-class laser to the Matter in Extreme Conditions (MEC) experimental endstation, will continue to present unique engineering and operational challenges.

The Timing and Synchronization Group is responsible for supporting and enhancing experiment timing synchronization at SLAC. This responsibility is threefold: 1) Developing new systems to achieve better accuracy and resolution, as well as introducing these systems into operation; 2) Supporting the operational demands by building a robust infrastructure, including maintenance of both electronics and control software; 3) Developing and executing a technology roadmap to deliver best-in-class synchronization for future capabilities.

As the group leader, you will manage and lead a team of engineers and technicians, providing supervision, mentorship, guidance, and training. You will foster staff development, promote engineering rigor, and participate in hiring activities to support the LCLS mission. Additionally, you will collaborate with stakeholders to develop and propose technical solutions and projects.

This position administratively reports to the LCLS Laser Engineering Department Head within the LCLS Directorate.

Your specific responsibilities include:

+ Establish the Precision Timing & Synchronization group as the world leader in synchronizing lasers and x-rays to best-in-class precision.

+ Work with staff scientists, engineers, and academic partners to develop a technology roadmap informed by modeling and future facility requirements.

+ Establish robust collaborations in academia, sister light sources, and industry to help solve significant technology challenges.

+ Direct and assign work to personnel and remain cognizant of the technical challenges, workload balances, and progress of LCLS/SLAC projects.

+ Promote adherence to the LCLS Conduct of Engineering, ensuring engineering rigor with accurate documentation and engineering review.

+ Identify, propose, and manage system performance improvements through an annual upgrade portfolio.

+ Identify and implement process improvements to enhance operational efficiency.

+ Provide the group with leadership in continuous operational improvement through root cause corrective action.

+ Prepare and conduct performance management activities for personnel and contribute to the LCLS engineering ranking and salary management processes.

+ Monitor system performance and identify repairs required to meet programmatic and operational milestones, and lead corrective actions as necessary.

+ Influence strategic technical decisions made by LCLS management.

+ Contribute to the definition of complex engineering solutions for X-ray-based experiments.

+ Perform engineering duties requiring significant scheduling and budgeting responsibility.

To be successful in this position, you will bring:

+ Bachelor¿s degree in Electrical Engineering or Physics and eight years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; or a Master¿s degree in a related field with relevant experience.

+ At least five years of experience with the design and operation of complex laser, electro-optical, and/or rf systems.

+ Five or more years¿ experience in engineering management, technical management, program management, operations management or equivalent.

+ Experience in demonstrating leadership, interpersonal skills, organizational, and supervisory skills to lead personnel, write performance appraisals, and actively participate in ranking and hiring activities.

+ Ability to promote and maintain productive cross-functional relationships.

+ Expert communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills, necessary to present, explain, and advise LCLS senior management and/or external sponsors.

+ Experience working independently and responsively to changing priorities and the ability to meet deadlines.

+ Familiar with RF system design

+ Design and integration of electro-optical systems into experimental facilities.

+ Experience with fiber optical communication systems

+ Familiar with linear accelerator architectures

+ Experience leading operations and documenting processes

+ Manufacturing, assembly, and installation coordination of electronic systems.

In addition, preferred requirements include:

+ Familiar with beamline instrumentation (beam position monitor, arrival time monitor) design and readout electronics

+ Specific experience in Timing and Synchronization systems between lasers and XFEL¿s.

+ Familiar with X-ray free-electron laser facilities

+ Experience with scientific instrumentation, project management, and/or technical supervision.

+ Experience with national laboratories and/or experiment user facilities.

+ Experience with high availability systems.

+ Experience with ultrafast optical cross-correlation and non-linear optical techniques

+ Experience with streaking techniques for high-speed temporal measurements

+ Experience with ultrafast mode-locked lasers and amplification techniques

SLAC manager competencies:

+ Results Through Others: Achieves expected results by effectively delegating and managing the work of others.

+ Aligns Priorities: Ensures planning and prioritization of resources and work efforts; ensures alignment of direct and matrix reports to support organizational goals and business plans.

+ Applies Lab Acumen: Maintains understanding of lab efforts and direction as well as current research and trends, considers technology and customer impacts, and contributes relevant, informed ideas to lab growth.

+ Navigates Complexity: Demonstrates effective problem-solving and decision-making in complex situations; manages a multitude of information and circumstances to discern what is most important; takes appropriate action, even with conflicting data or in difficult situations.

+ 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.

+ Self-awareness: Seeks feedback from others and takes ownership of, and actions to address what is learned; recognizes impact on others and adjusts as needed; pursues continuous learning opportunities; implements a meaningful development plan.

+ Team Effectiveness: Effectively motivates team members and fosters a diverse and collaborative environment; leverages individual members¿ strengths for overall team effectiveness; incorporates insights to improve team operations.

+ Purpose & Vision: Articulates a clear vision of expected outcomes; inspires others to execute work plans and feel a sense of purpose and ownership for the mission.

+ Attracts & Develops Employee Talent: Plans for, attracts, and hires the right talent for current and future organizational needs; operates with a focus on growing internal talent through organizational and staff development; values and encourages continuous growth development through a blend of work experiences, coaching, and formal learning; aligns individual development with organizational needs and objectives.

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 his or her job.

+ Given the nature of this position, SLAC is open to on-site and hybrid work options.

Work standards:

+ Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with SLAC and 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

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+ Classification Title: Research Technical Manager 2

+ Job Code: 4987 Grade: M

+ Duration: Regular continuing

The expected pay range for this position is $194,228 - $235,896 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.