Division Director - Cryogenics Division

Position Overview

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is seeking an outstanding candidate to lead the Cryogenics Division within the Accelerator Directorate (AD). The Cryogenics Division is responsible for the operation, engineering, maintenance, and continuous improvement of cryogenic systems supporting SLAC accelerator facilities, including the superconducting accelerator systems of the Linac Coherent Light Source II (LCLS-II). These systems are critical to safe, reliable, and efficient accelerator operations and play an essential role in enabling SLAC scientific user facilities and future accelerator initiatives.

The Cryogenics Division Director manages the resources, budget, and activities associated with cryogenic operations and engineering, including cryoplant operations, maintenance planning, system reliability, engineering support, upgrades, commissioning, and operational readiness. The Director is responsible for ensuring disciplined operations, strong engineering practices, and effective integration of cryogenic systems into SLAC accelerator operations and future facility initiatives.

This position reports to the AD Deputy Associate Laboratory Director for Operations and requires onsite work.

• Lead a complex technical organization responsible for cryogenic systems supporting accelerator operations and development programs.
• Ensure reliable operation and operational readiness of the LCLS-II cryoplant and associated cryogenic infrastructure.
• Direct division resources, including staffing, budget, infrastructure, and maintenance activities, to ensure safe, effective, and efficient operations.
• Lead maintenance planning, lifecycle management, and operational reliability improvements for cryogenic systems, including spare parts planning and outage coordination.
• Promote a culture of disciplined operations, operational readiness, safety, reliability, and continuous improvement across cryogenic operations and engineering activities.
• Establish and maintain ES&H goals and objectives for the organization to ensure protection of personnel, the public, and the environment.
• Serve as a core member of the Accelerator Directorate senior management team.
• Establish and maintain processes and policies consistent with SLAC and AD Conduct of Engineering principles to ensure disciplined design, operation, maintenance, and modification of cryogenic systems.
• Support future accelerator and infrastructure initiatives requiring cryogenic systems expertise, including upgrades and new facility capabilities.
• Collaborate closely with operations, engineering, physics, maintenance, and project organizations to support high-performance accelerator operations and scientific user programs.
• Identify, clarify, and resolve complex technical and organizational issues requiring broad technical judgment and cross‑functional coordination.
• Build, develop, and retain a highly capable technical workforce, including succession planning and staff development.
• Communicate regularly with Directorate leadership regarding operational performance, priorities, risks, and resource needs.
• Manage the adoption of emerging technologies and operational improvements supporting cryogenic reliability, maintainability, and performance.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or a related field and a minimum of ten years of relevant experience in engineering, operations, technical infrastructure, or large technical programs.
• Demonstrated experience leading and managing a large, complex technical operations team working 24/7, involving multidisciplinary teams, significant infrastructure, and operational risk.
• Demonstrated experience managing a large organization of technical and operations staff through subordinate managers, including success in attracting, developing, and retaining staff.
• Demonstrated experience defining and implementing engineering, maintenance, and operational best practices and processes.
• Demonstrated experience managing staff in matrixed organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve complex technical and organizational issues and make sound decisions in a collaborative and respectful environment.
• Ability…