Job Description
The RF and Analog Systems department of the Technology Innovation directorate at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is seeking an Electronics Engineer to contribute to development of state-of-the-art electronics systems used in a variety of experiments and facilities. This department develops state-of-the-art RF and analog electronics for accelerators and detectors.
The work will include science, engineering concept development and hands-on work with detectors. SLAC has broad engineering and technical support, but there will be a need for a wide range of work ranging from concept development to laboratory performance testing, to electronics and software development, to on-site commissioning. This position requires great flexibility in doing whatever is needed for a successful project.
This work involves solving problems no one has ever solved before. There will be lots of opportunities for technical discussions, but in the end the person who takes this job will have responsibility for finding the solutions. Members of our team are encouraged to work in a variety of areas, supporting multiple diverse designs in a dynamic, energetic environment which values work life balance and comes with all the benefits of being an employee of Stanford University.
As an RF and Analog engineer, you will be part of the RF and Analog Systems department of the Instrumentation Division. Members of this department provide end-to-end electrical for the laboratory and external sponsors that encompass unique science and engineering challenges. The department also hosts world-class competence spanning concept, design, testing and operation and maintenance of high-speed data acquisition and electrical control systems for research instrumentation. The technical scope of your work will be limited only by your own demonstrated abilities.
You will have the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of scientific and engineering staff and contribute to and participate in designing hardware in advanced electronics systems, low jitter master reference for the next generation X-ray light sources, readout electronics for particle detectors. You will also develop solutions to challenges in the areas of RF systems, analog and high-speed digital electronics boards, high-speed signal transmission, fast data-acquisition and processing, and mechanical packaging and cooling.
Your specific responsibilities include:
- Architect and implement low-noise front ends for LLRF, Master reference sources with 10-25fs of jitter using ultra-low noise frequency synthesization at the frequency range from hundreds of MHz to tens of GHz., Solid-State Amplifier, and particle detectors.
- Specify and design circuit boards, for application of different types of low jitter RF signal sources and applications using the RFSoC.
- Be part of the team designing the concept, architecture, and components of future advanced instrumentation systems.
- Perform characterization, calibration and integration of state of the art.
- Support for readout electronics and data acquisition systems.
- Support the assembly, integration and testing of components for next generation instrumentation systems for a range of applications such as high-energy physics colliders or fixed-target experiments, FEL x-ray sources and dark matter searches.
- Collaborate with other instrumentation development groups at SLAC and other scientific institutions.
To be successful in this position you will bring:
- Bachelor’s degree in electronics, physics or related fields and at least 5-10 years of experience in the following areas, or master’s degree in electronics, physics or related fields.
- Experience with different RF sources such as; OCXO (Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator), OCVCXO, TCXO, SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave Oscillator), DRO (Dielectric Resonator Oscillator), YIG (Yttrium Iron Garnet Oscillator), Sapphire/Whispering Gallery Mode, Cavity Oscillator, Atomic/Quantum Standards (Rubidium, Cesium etc.).
- Experience with understanding of Common mode noise cancellation, digital and analog filter design, noise source and suppression schemes, PLL control systems.to support instrumentation systems.
- Experience with RF signal processing in Advanced Design Systems by Keysight
- Experience with Altium design and RF layouts
- Python or C++ coding language extensive experience.
- Experience with standard MATLAB and experience MATLAB toolboxes for data analysis, signal processing, and RF analysis
- Ability to work with minimal supervision and be self-motivated.
- Excellent communications skills and ability to work well in a research and development team.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team environment.
- Proven project management and team leadership skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Masters degree or equivalent in electronics, physics or related fields is a plus.
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.
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 Given the nature of this position, SLAC is open to on-site and hybrid work options.
- Given the nature of this position, SLAC is open to on-site and hybrid work options.
As an organization that receives federal funding, SLAC and Stanford University have a COVID-19 vaccination requirement that will apply to all university employees, including those working remotely in the United States and applicable subcontractors. To learn more about COVID policies and guidelines for Stanford University Staff, please visit https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/working-stanford/covid-19/interim-policies/covid-19-surveillance-testing-policy
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Classification Title: Staff Engineer 3
Grade: L
Job code: 0133
Duration: Regular Continuing
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.