Engineered Systems Tec - LLRF Team

What You Will Do

The Accelerator Operations and Technology Division (AOT), Radio Frequency Engineering (RFE) group is seeking an Engineered Systems Tec Level 3 or Level 4 for their Low-Level Radio Frequency (LLRF) team. The AOT division maintains, operates, and upgrades all accelerator systems used at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) complex. These consist of two 750-keV Cockcroft-Walton-based injector systems (H+ and H- systems), a 201.25-MHz drift-tube linear accelerator (LINAC) utilizing high-power diacrode tubes, an 805-MHz coupled cavity LINAC utilizing high-power klystrons as the primary power source, a proton storage ring, and roughly a kilometer of beam transport lines that deliver beam to the five independent research programs.

The RFE group is principally responsible for all radio frequency (RF) systems. The group consists of three teams: (1) Low-Level RF (LLRF) focused on real-time phase and amplitude controls; (2) High-Power RF (HPRF) systems at 201 MHz; and (3) High-Power RF systems at 805 MHz. The Accelerator Operations and Technology - Radio Frequency Engineering (AOT-RFE) Group provides expertise, support, and technical leadership in all aspects of RF engineering including gridded tube amplifiers and klystrons as well as RF control systems and RF accelerator cavities.

AOT-RFE's primary focus is the design, and implementation of RF systems for the LANSCE User Facility. This includes participation in current and future projects. AOT's secondary focus is to share its expertise and experience with organizations within the Laboratory as well as external partners and sponsors. Along these lines, AOT-RFE has worked on national accelerator and global security projects utilizing its knowledge base while incorporating cutting edge technology.

Additionally, the group fosters and participates in worldwide collaborations, workshops, and conferences in the interest of exploring and pushing the frontiers in RF technology.

This position will be filled at either the Engineered Systems Tec 3 or Engineered Systems Tec 4 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.

EST 3 ($64,700 - $101,400)

The successful candidate will be offered a position on the AOT-RFE LLRF team and will perform technical installation and/or maintenance functions supporting engineering activities relating to RF controls. The successful applicant will work closely with engineers and other technicians both within and outside the group to meet LLRF team and RFE group technical goals and deliverables. Responsibilities include helping to define technical requirements, working on multiple tasks and projects, building new electronic and RF hardware, repairing and maintaining existing legacy systems, managing technical interfaces with other LANSCE teams, preparing conduct of engineering documentation, using the accelerator operations maintenance database to track existing system performance, and demonstrating technical excellence and performance to meet system requirements.

The candidate will participate in equipment shutdown (in accordance with LOTO policy), identify and replace / repair defective components, and perform installation of new equipment.

The position involves learning from and demonstrating experience working with technologists and technicians with a wealth of knowledge to share. The EST 3 position requires experience using basic electronic test equipment such as oscilloscopes and voltmeters. It requires the ability to read and understand basic electrical wiring diagrams or schematics, work from documentation, diagrams, rough sketches, layouts, and verbal instructions. Some experience performing installation, maintenance, commissioning, and repairs on electrical/electronic equipment and/or systems is expected, as is some level of experience troubleshooting circuits containing multiple integrated or discrete components.

The position requires the ability to complete forklift and incidental crane training / certification. The successful candidate will also provide on-call support for the LLRF team after hours and on weekends. The on-call assignment will typically be one week per month during accelerator operations, which spans approximately seven months per year.

EST 4 ($71,200 - $112,900)

In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level the successful applicant will be required to understand alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) systems, the principles of Low-Level Radio Frequency (LLRF) system operation, mechanical construction, wiring and printed circuit board assembly, fast digital logic and electronics troubleshooting. The position also requires demonstrated abilities or experience with writing system and test documentation.

The main job will be to learn from the team and assist with day-to-day operations, with…