Cryogenics Specialist

Evanston, Illinois

Department:
Cryogenics Facility
Salary/Grade: NEX/14

Provide a brief description of the general nature of the position; an overview of why the job exists; and what the job is to accomplish.

The Cryogenics Specialist ensures and maintains a continuing supply of liquid helium and liquid nitrogen on Northwestern University's Evanston campus, through the Cryogenic Facility's helium liquefaction and liquid nitrogen systems. He/she develops methods to improve the efficiency and monitor performance of the cryogenics facility as well as developing and providing and executing cryogenics training for safe practice by facility users and to conserve helium a non-renewable resource.

Excellent customer service and mechanical aptitude are required.

The Cryogenics Specialist will support the OR mission and values of understanding empathy, modeling accountability, ensuring fairness, embracing community, and valuing creativity.

* Note:

Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

• The Cryogenics Specialist runs the helium liquefier and operates the helium gas recovery system from users. This is a closed system encompassing all major science buildings on the Evanston campus, approximately 30,000 liquid liters per year. The Specialist coordinates adding new users to the He return system and develops tools to characterize the facility, rapidly detect mechanical failures, and reduce He losses throughout the system.
  
  The Specialist provides liquid nitrogen and monitors the gaseous nitrogen in an open system encompassing all major science buildings on the Evanston campus approximately, 36 million cubic feet of gas per year.
• The Cryogenics Specialist manages supply and billing including the ordering of raw product from providers, manages distribution of liquid helium, liquid nitrogen and gaseous nitrogen to all users on the Evanston campus. Maintain record keeping and reporting to the Director of Cryogenic Facilities, to the University's office of Research and Bureau of Land Management (helium).
• The Cryogenics Specialist operates and helps to maintain and repair liquid helium production equipment including eighteen 100 liter storage dewars, a 1,500 liter liquefaction dewar a 1410 liquefier, a RS screw compressor from Linde Cryogenics LC, two high pressure compressors (3000 psi), two reciprocating high throughput model 1400 compressors, storage for low and high pressure gas, and the gas recovery system.
  
  The Cryogenics Specialist helps to oversee bulk nitrogen delivery to a 6,000 gallon storage tank and maintain the liquid and gas nitrogen distribution system including three self-serve liquid delivery stations and seventy 160 liter liquid nitrogen dewars.
• Helium is a non-renewable resource in short supply suffering from wild swings in availability and price. The Cryogenics Specialist, must be knowledgeable of the helium market dynamics in order to strategically plan, adjust production and, most importantly, to reduce helium losses in order to maintain inventory that is of critical importance to research.
• The Cryogenics Specialist assists in the development of training modules and holds regular training workshops for the users of cryogenics, consistent with good practice to promote safety, to reduce losses, and to minimize the effects of raw product shortages. Research groups are beginning to operate their own He liquefaction systems. The Specialist must be able to inspect these systems to ensure isolation of interoperability with the central He return system.

Perform other duties as assigned

• A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education, experience &/or training.
• Experience maintaining high-pressure He storage systems including dewar safety, pump maintenance and operation, leak detection and inventory management.
• Experience with storage, transfer, and usage of He and Nitrogen at cryogenic temperatures, including efficient transfer to dewars, transfer within labs, and He recovery.
• Minimum Competencies
• Machine operation skills.
• Computer and electronics skills.
• Cryogenic industrial hygiene.

• Instrument making and heavy machine experience
• Computer and electronics operation and repair experience
• Remote monitoring of gas flow / pressure.
• Low and high pressure system design.

• Instrument making and heavy machine operation and maintenance skills.
• Computer and electronics capabilities/skills
• Helium liquefaction and liquid nitrogen handing skills

Target hiring range for this position will be between $31.50-$35.80 per hour. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this…