Staff Engineer - SSRL Materials Science Division

Position Overview:

SSRL is seeking an outstanding Staff Engineer to join a dynamic scientific research environment in the hard x-ray group of the Materials Science Division. The primary responsibility of this position is to provide engineering support to the hard x-ray group, including assisting scientists with instrument development on the end stations and working with scientists and users to develop new sample environments, such as rapid heating/cooling, strain or high-pressure cells, chemical and electrochemical environments, or laser excitation setups.

Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL), a SLAC Directorate at Stanford University, is a national scientific user facility providing synchrotron radiation for research in biology, chemistry, engineering, environmental science, material science, medicine, and physics. SSRL operates and maintains the 3 GeV electron storage ring SPEAR3, the associated injector facility, and synchrotron radiation beam lines on SPEAR
3.

• Design and develop in-situ/operando experimental hardware and technical capabilities for advanced synchrotron experiments.

• Identify, scope and execute projects that expand experimental capabilities, improve system reliability, and streamline beamline operations.

• Design, prototype, commission, and maintain beamline hardware, and provide high-quality technical support for scientific operations.

• Contribute engineering input to the beam time scheduling by aligning instrument readiness, maintenance needs, and experimental requirements.

• Align x-ray optics, diagnose beam quality issues, and resolve system-level performance problems.

• May serve as a beam line program manager (requires periodic on-call duties).

• Other duties may also be assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, chemistry or related field and at least 2 years of experience in a scientific, engineering, or technical environment, including:

  • Hands‑on experience with small/wide angle x‑ray scattering, diffraction, reflectivity, or microscopy with synchrotron radiation instrumentation.

  • Hands‑on experience with in‑situ/operando instrument design.

  • Mechanical design and drawing creation using parametric CAD software such as Solid Works or Solid Edge.

  • Working knowledge of mechanical fabrication techniques, precision mechanism design, and kinematic design principles related to mechanical systems design.

  • Strong hands‑on skills in assembling complex mechanical systems and handling delicate instruments.

  • Scientific programming experience, such as Python.

  • Experience interfacing scientific instrumentation or industrial controls with Linux and Windows operating systems.

• Demonstrated ability to translate concepts into practical designs, supported by strong analytical and problem‑solving, and creative engineering judgment.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with a diverse group of scientists, technical staff and user groups in a fast‑paced and dynamic environment.

• Ability to work in a team environment as well as independently.

• Ability to write clear technical documentation, engineering notes, and user manuals.

• Ability to evaluate and troubleshoot sophisticated electro‑mechanical and logic control systems.

• Knowledge of beamline control and data acquisition software such as EPICS, SPEC, or ICs.

• Experience tuning x‑ray optics and opto‑electro‑mechanical systems.

• Experience with beamline optics simulation using ray‑tracing software.