Pulsed Power Engineer; R&D Engineer

Overview

The Integrated Weapons Experiments (J) Division, Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test (DARHT) Engineering, Operations, and Physics (J-6) Group is seeking a Pulsed Power Engineer to join our Pulsed Power Team. J-6 delivers state-of-the-art accelerator, pulsed-power, beam-target, and radiographic physics capabilities in support of the Laboratory's hydrodynamic test mission. This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 2 or 3 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.

This position will be filled at either the R&D Engineer 2 or 3 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. The Pulsed Power Team supports the DARHT accelerator pulsed-power systems.

• Troubleshooting, maintaining, and upgrading the DARHT accelerator pulsed-power systems.
• Designing, modeling, developing, and implementing new pulsed-power sources and systems for accelerator applications.
• Design, model, and develop new or improved pulsed-power sources, loads, diagnostics, and systems for DARHT and other accelerators.
• Operate, troubleshoot, repair, and maintain pulsed-power systems, including Marx generators, PFNs, PFLs, IVAs, and solid-state pulsed-power systems.
• Provide technical input and analysis on pulsed-power systems for DARHT and other accelerator applications.
• Guide technicians in fabrication and troubleshooting activities.
• Produce technical reports, documentation, and presentations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary staff to ensure reliable performance of DARHT systems.
• Leading design upgrades to existing pulsed-power systems and diagnostics to enhance capability and reliability (R&D Engineer 3 level, additional duties).
• Direct troubleshooting, fabrication, and upgrade activities for DARHT and other accelerator systems (R&D Engineer 3 level).
• Simulate and test pulsed-power systems for electrical performance and long-term reliability (R&D Engineer 3 level).
• Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) on DARHT accelerator pulsed-power systems (R&D Engineer 3 level).

Pulsed-Power Systems

• Demonstrated knowledge of safety issues and hazards associated with pulsed-power systems and devices.
• Demonstrated knowledge in the use of interlocks and design features to mitigate risks and hazards.
• Experience with pulsed-power hardware, diagnostics, and systems.

Electrical Engineering Knowledge

• Ability to read and understand complex electrical schematics.
• Proficiency in circuit design and modeling, including use of circuit simulation tools such as SPICE.

Laboratory & Computational Skills

• Experience with data acquisition and analysis.
• Knowledge of and experience with engineering/scientific computational tools such as Python, MATLAB, or IDL.

Communication Skills

• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in teams.
• Proven decision-making and creative problem-solving skills.

Ability to obtain a DOE Q Clearance

• Usually requires U.S. citizenship.

R&D Engineer 2:
Position requires a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution and 4 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

R&D Engineer 3:
Position requires a Master's Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution and 6 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

• Extensive experience in pulsed-power design, implementation, operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
• Expertise in electromagnetic finite-element modeling and analysis using tools such as ANSYS Maxwell, HFSS, COMSOL, CST, or Flux.
• Experience leading and mentoring technical staff and successfully managing technical projects or teams.

• Active DOE Q Clearance
• Advanced Pulsed-Power Systems Experience
• Experience designing pulse-forming networks, Blumleins, transmission lines, and switched capacitor banks
• Experience with high-power switches such as spark gaps, solid-state devices, and thyratrons
• Experience with linear induction accelerators
• Knowledge of linear induction accelerator cells, including magnetic circuits and properties

Can perform with or without reasonable accommodation: speaking, discriminating speech, hearing in a normal range (500 to 3000 Hz), sitting, standing, walking, typing or keyboarding, lifting 5–10 pounds, carrying 5–10 pounds.

Outdoors, in confined spaces, at heights, underground, working alone, with overtime or irregular schedule, and travel (domestic/foreign). Work with weapons or explosives, vibrating equipment/machinery, moving machinery, toxic or irritant chemicals, dusts or…