Engineered Systems Technician - MHz HPRF team

Overview

What You Will Do The 201 MHz High-Power RF (HPRF) team at LANSCE is seeking an Engineered Systems Technician for the HPRF team. The AOT division maintains, operates, and upgrades all accelerator systems used at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) complex. These include two 750-keV Cockcroft-Walton injector systems (H+ and H-), a 201.25-MHz drift-tube LINAC using high-power diacrode tubes, an 805-MHz coupled cavity LINAC using high-power klystrons, a proton storage ring, and roughly a kilometer of beam transport lines delivering beam to five independent research programs.

The RFE group is responsible for all RF systems and consists of three teams:
Low-Level RF (LLRF), High-Power RF (HPRF) at 201 MHz, and High-Power RF at 805 MHz. The two HPRF teams are also responsible for high-voltage systems for the amplifiers.

The successful candidate will support operation, maintenance and upgrades of high-power RF amplifier systems around the accelerator and collaborate in designing new equipment for future upgrades. The candidate is also expected to provide "on-call" support for LANSCE high-power RF amplifier systems after hours and on weekends. The on-call assignment is typically one week out of every four-six, while the accelerator is operating (approximately 7 months per year).

This position will be filled at the Engineered Systems Tec 4 or Engineered Systems Tec 5 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional responsibilities may be assigned if hired at the higher level.

EST 4 ($71,200 - $112,900)
The successful candidate will join the AOT-RFE 201 MHz team and perform technical installation and/or maintenance supporting RF amplifiers and related equipment. Duties include working with engineers and other technicians to design, upgrade, maintain and troubleshoot amplifier systems involving high-voltage/high-current power supplies and complex control systems. Additional duties include purchasing and tracking spare counts, participating in hazard analysis and safety documentation, and producing documentation reflecting changes and installation efforts.

The successful applicant will be encouraged to pursue further RF and electronics training.

EST 5 ($85,900 - $139,900)
In addition to EST 4 responsibilities, this level requires leading troubleshooting efforts, deep understanding of electronics to troubleshoot circuits from schematics, and prototyping electronics designs based on hand-drawn schematics.

Minimum

Job Requirements:

• Experience with electronic and RF test equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, signal generators, power meters, network or spectrum analyzers).
• Ability to produce electronic/electrical drawings from schematics or descriptions using design software (AutoCAD, Visio, Altium, Eagle, etc.).
• Ability to produce simple mechanical drawings for supports and chassis for external fabrication.
• Experience working within safety documentation and hazard analysis.
• Ability to produce clear written documents and communications.
• Experience planning/participating in installation, maintenance, commissioning and troubleshooting of electrical/electronic equipment and systems.
• Familiarity with control systems (PLCs, FPGAs, microcontrollers).

Additional Requirements for EST 5:

• Prototyping an electronic chassis including mechanical changes (panel-mount connectors, terminal boards, PCBs inside metal containment) and wiring between components.
• Leading hazard analysis and safety documentation.
• Leading installation, maintenance, commissioning and troubleshooting on electrical/electronic equipment and systems.
• Providing guidance and mentoring to peers and junior technicians, and collaborating with senior staff to solve technical problems.

Education/

Experience:

EST 4:
Associate's Degree in a related field plus a minimum of 5 years of related experience, or equivalent.

EST 5:
Associate's Degree in a related field plus a minimum of 7 years of related experience, or equivalent.

• Forklift and crane operations.
• Soldering with fine-pitch, surface-mount components.
• Experience with high-voltage/high-power equipment (transformers, capacitor banks, rectifiers, hi-potters power supplies, crowbar protections).
• Pulsed power systems (modulators and fast switching HV systems).
• RF systems using solid-state or tube amplifiers in low MHz to UHF range.
• Experience with circuit layout simulation (PSpice, Multisim, LTSpice).
• Water and air cooling systems, including components and sensors, installation and maintenance.
• Operations experience at an accelerator facility.

For full consideration, please provide a detailed cover letter and resume explaining how you meet the minimum and desired qualifications.

Ability to speak and hear within normal ranges; ability to stand, walk, climb ladders and stairs, bend, stoop, crouch, kneel, twist, and lift/carry 50+ pounds; use of hands/arms; reach overhead and…