Power Radio Frequency Engineer; R&D Engineer

What You Will Do

This position will be filled at either the Job Title Lower/Higher 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 Accelerator Operations and Technology Division (AOT), Radio Frequency Engineering (RFE) group is seeking an R&D Engineer 2 or 3 for the 201.25 MHz High-Power Radio-Frequency (201 HPRF) 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 and their associated amplitude and phase control in relation to the accelerating beam.

Due to the different types of equipment that we are involved with, when working in AOT-RFE no day is the same as the next. Members of the 201 HPRF team are involved in the design, construction, testing and installation of high-frequency high-power amplifiers dedicated to produce the RF power to achieve optimal acceleration and bunching of the beam. The 201 HPRF team works on tetrode and Diacrode vacuum tubes and their kilowatt to multi-megawatt amplifier structures, solid-state amplifiers, coaxial transmission lines, combining/splitting high-power components, circulators, the high-voltage and high-current power supplies to provide power to the amplifiers, and analog and digital electronics and controls.

Additionally, this position will support the LANSCE Modernization Project (LAMP) that will replace the front-end of the accelerator (injector systems and drift-tube LINAC). The 201 HPRF team will be responsible for modifications and upgrades to the RF systems in support of those efforts, such as high-power testing of RF components, controls upgrades, high-voltage power supply upgrade, etc.

The 201 HPRF team at LANSCE is looking for a candidate with a background in Electrical Engineering or related field to join the RF Engineering group. This is a support role with dynamic responsibilities, guided by the priorities of the High-Power Radio Frequency (HPRF) plant and upgrades required for LAMP. Duties include troubleshooting programmatic equipment and extending to engineering and supervisory aspects of project execution, such as performing initial calculations, developing specifications, submitting procurement orders, and coordinating testing, delivery and installation.

Close collaboration and coordination with other engineers and technicians on the 201 HPRF team along with cooperation across other accelerator systems groups (such as mechanical, instrumentation and accelerator physics) is expected.

In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level the successful candidate will independently lead the development and execution RF amplifier systems projects as a part of LAMP. This includes own the full design and procurement process, including defining electrical, thermal, and mechanical interfaces, and developing installation plans that ensure system performance, reliability, and safety. The role also involves conducting hazard analyses and preparing safety documentation to maintain regulatory compliance.

• Proficiency with laboratory and RF test equipment (e.g., oscilloscopes, network/spectrum analyzers, signal generators, RF power meters), and experience with high-voltage, high-power electronic components.
• Demonstrated ability in the design, implementation, and troubleshooting of analog and digital electronic systems, including RF circuit analysis and amplifier systems (solid-state and tube-based).
• Experience with schematic design and circuit simulation tools (e.g., AutoCAD, Eagle, PSpice, LTSpice), and programming of PLC and/or FPGA controllers.
• Strong documentation skills, including the creation of specifications, schematics, and test plans, along with the ability to present technical content to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively on complex, multi-disciplinary engineering projects.

• Extensive experience with RF amplifier systems (solid-state and tube-based) and high-power electrical systems, including transformers, rectifiers, and high-voltage DC or pulsed power supplies.
• Proficiency with laboratory and RF test equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum/network analyzers, signal generators, RF power meters) and hands-on troubleshooting of high-voltage electronics.
• Strong ability to design,…