Staff Engineer , SSRL RF Systems

Staff Engineer 3, SSRL RF Systems

Job

6660

Location

SLAC - Menlo Park, CA

Full-Time

Regular

** SLAC Job Postings*
* *
* Position Overview:

*
* SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory's SPEAR3 is one of the four US third generation light sources' electron storage rings dedicated to producing brilliant X-ray beams. SPEAR3 serves Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL), a national user facility with the longest history of utilizing synchrotron radiation for multi-disciplinary experiments studying many of the most pressing scientific issues facing humanity including those in medicine, biology, energy, and the environment.

SSRL supports over 1500 research scientists annually. SPEAR3 operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week during each annual 5000-hour user run.

Members of our SSRL Accelerator Team are responsible for operating and improving electron accelerators that produce high brightness x-rays for SSRL. The accelerator complex consists of an RF electron gun, 120-MeV linear accelerator, a 10-Hz cycling booster synchrotron to accelerate electrons from 120 MeV to 3 GeV, and the main SPEAR3 storage ring that emits x-ray synchrotron radiation from bend magnets, wigglers and undulators.

The accelerator team has expertise in instrumentation, fast feedback systems, real-time software applications, systems analysis, and accelerator beam dynamics. The group conducts regular testing of system components with live beam to demonstrate new concepts and collaborates with other groups at SLAC for development, prototype implementation, system deployment and systems analysis.

The SSRL Accelerator RF Group is responsible for maintaining, operating, and improving the RF systems that power the electron storage ring and its injector. These systems include high peak power klystrons, solid state amplifiers, low-level RF (LLRF) control systems, high-voltage power supplies, and precision feedback loops critical to the stability of these systems.

We are seeking an RF Engineer with a strong background in RF and microwave engineering, high-power RF systems, and accelerator technology to support and enhance SSRL's RF infrastructure. The successful candidate will work closely with scientists, engineers, and technical staff to maintain the current RF systems for SPEAR3's storage ring, booster synchrotron, and injector linac, recommend new improvements to the current systems, and design, build, and commission those improvements.

The candidate will also support the construction, testing, and commissioning of the storage ring RF system upgrade project as well as a major project to migrate the SPEAR3 RF source from a klystron/high voltage power supply system to a solid-state amplifier system. In addition to a strong theoretical background, this role also requires hands-on experience with RF system diagnostics, troubleshooting, and improvements to ensure high reliability and performance.

** _SLAC is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) laboratory operated by Stanford University and based in Menlo Park, CA._*
* ** Your specific responsibilities include:*
* + Maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize RF systems, including high-power klystron amplifiers, solid-state amplifiers, waveguide systems, and low-level RF control systems.

This may include infrequent off-hour or call-in work to restore the systems to operation during the user run.

+ Develop and implement improvements to enhance RF system reliability, and operability.

+ Design, develop, and implement RF components and subsystems, including cavity tuning systems, RF feedback loops, and phase/amplitude stabilization.

+ Analyze and diagnose RF system performance using advanced measurement techniques, including signal generators, vector network analyzers (VNAs), spectrum analyzers, power meters, and time-domain reflectometry.

+ Lead and contribute to projects for RF system upgrades, including planning, design, procurement, documentation, test stand development, final system installation, and commissioning.

+ Ensure compliance with safety protocols for high-power RF systems, high-voltage equipment, and accelerator operation standards.

+ Support SSRL operations and beam studies, working closely with physicists and accelerator operators to ensure stable and reliable beam delivery.

** To be successful in this position you will bring:*
* + Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, RF engineering, applied physics, or a related field.

+ Minimum of 4 years' experience in RF/microwave engineering, high-power RF systems, or accelerator technology.

+ Strong hands-on experience with RF components such as klystrons, solid-state amplifiers, wave guides, circulators, RF cavities, combiners, couplers, etc.

+ Proficiency in RF measurement techniques using signal generators, VNAs, spectrum analyzers, power meters, and oscilloscopes.

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Experience with RF system modeling and simulation.

+ Understanding of feedback and control systems for RF stabilization.

+ Ability to troubleshoot and diagnose RF-related technical issues and implement…