SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

SLAC Job Postings

Position Overview

Do you enjoy collaborating with a diverse group of people to solve complex challenges? Does contributing to breakthrough discoveries in science and working with unique experimental instrumentation in a world-leading scientific research environment excite you? The Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) Directorate at SLAC is seeking an electronic engineer to manage the Electrical Systems Division (SSRL-ESD).

The Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) Electrical Systems Division (SSRL-ESD) is responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of novel and standard/commercial solutions for synchrotron radiation beamline instrumentation and electron particle accelerator electrical systems as well as computing and network infrastructure all in support of scientific research and experimental projects. Members of the SSRL-ESD are responsible for establishing performance criteria, evaluating potential system designs, and implementing/supporting machine protection systems (MPS), personnel protection systems (PPS), beam containment systems (BCS), computing and networking infrastructures, beamlines data acquisition, and motion control systems while ensuring designs and installations are properly documented.

In this role, you will provide strategic leadership and management for the SSRL Electrical Systems Division exercising authority for policy and programmatic decisions and achieve goals through technical and managerial staff engaged in developing, advancing and applying science, engineering and technology. This position reports to the SSRL Associate Lab Director.

Your specific responsibilities include:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction of complex scientific, engineering, or technical research organization(s) or program(s) with responsibility for overall success. Achieve mission and goals through the management of staff and/or managerial staff engaged in developing, advancing and applying science, engineering and technology.
• Provide strategy and vision; make decisions that establish objectives for the overall direction or operation of a significant project(s) or area(s).
• Manage staff of a large science, engineering, and/or technical research area, which includes recruiting, hiring, developing, evaluating and setting priorities; manage business, technical, and educational activities for direct reports including managers and technical experts.
• Identify, clarify, and resolve issues with strategic impact and substantial significance, which span multiple areas, using advanced technical and professional knowledge requiring broad discretion and judgment.
• Direct and oversee the overall engineering or technical functions for assigned area of responsibility. Collaborate with senior management, and/or others in order to develop, communicate and manage a strategic plan aligned with goals of the larger organization and consistent with the lab’s overall mission.
• Accountable for ensuring budget, personnel, and facilities resources are used appropriately.
• Perform project management and engineering work of considerable scope and complexity, often challenging and difficult with no supervision.
• Assign work and delegate areas of responsibilities to staff and group leaders to achieve production of high-quality work on-time and on-budget aligned with customer need.
• Manage project priorities from conception to implementation, ensuring specification, design, test, production, installation and documentation phases are completed. Collaborate with other related SLAC electrical and electronics groups.
• Assure rigorous work planning and control processes including requirements gathering, project planning, risk management, design reviews, test procedures, soft/firmware version control, management reports.
• Stewardship of SSRL beamline electrical and electronics systems.
• Plan and implement upgrades to be the least invasive to 24/7 operations, with consideration of limited resources.
• Communicate with multidisciplinary and diverse scientific, technical and support staff including physicists, scientists, duty operators, electrical and mechanical engineers, electronic and network technicians.
• Lead and direct engineering reviews for electric and electronics systems.
• Work with SSRL and Accelerator Directorate leadership to ensure that the electrical systems will meet the beam uptime availability goal.
• Respond for occasional 24/7 support for subsystems assigned.
• Collaborate with others on the direction of activities relevant to long-term objectives. Develop strategies to ensure effective achievement of objectives.
• Develop policies and procedures as they relate to academic or program activities.
• Implement, evaluate and maintain quality control standards to ensure program success.
• Establish, oversee and manage financials and schedule for large programs and/or multiple projects.
• Recommend the adoption of emerging technologies and the development of new methods and approaches.
• Negotiate with internal departments and external agencies with authority to commit resources and effort.
• Serve as a liaison to senior management, cross-functional areas, schools and external organizations such as sponsors and government agencies.

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Engineering, or related field and eight years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience. Advanced degree may be required.
• Leading large, complex scientific, engineering, or technical research projects or programs.
• Developing, managing, and contributing to the definition of complex engineering solutions. Including experience with developing engineering requirements and design specifications.
• Reviewing and approving design requirements to ensure they are complete and documented.
• Leading, managing, motivating, and developing technical staff.
• In-depth background in one or more of the following technical areas: power system and associate controls development environment, scientific instrumentation data acquisition and motion control, safety systems standards, engineering designs, development, and troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated ability to manage engineering teams and projects including budget and schedule.
• Provide strategic direction and develop long range plans that typically establish objectives and overall direction for a major function or center.
• Lead and direct multiple complex projects requiring high levels of functional integration.
• Ability to create and maintain documentation related to projects and user guides.
• Demonstrated ability to work and communicate effectively with a diverse population.
• Advanced level knowledge and understanding of low level analog electronics.
• Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to synthesize and articulate technical and scientific methodologies, specifications, and information.
• Ability to provide training and guidance to students, postdoctoral researchers and other scientific personnel.

In addition, preferred attributes include:

• Advanced degree Master or PhD.
• Python, Linux and VMS
• IEC IEC 61131-3 Ladder Logic, Function Block, C++, Instruction List, Structured Text, continuous and sequential Function Chart.
• SCADA, DCS & PLC system design, configuration and troubleshooting.
• Siemens S7 F System safety-rated, fault-tolerant, standard program PLC and HMI.
• PID control loop tuning using classical and automated control applications.
• Knowledge of VHDL/Verilog in the embedded systems space.
• Experience using electrical capture and PCB design software.

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.

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
• 
  
• Job Classification: Research Technical Manager 2
• Grade: M Job Code: 4987
• Duration – Regular continuing 

The expected pay range for this position is $172,000 - $210,000 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