Beamline Manager (SMIS) SOLEIL

Diamond Light Source Ltd; France; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Health insurance

On-site catering

Time Savings Account (CET)

Family benefits

Job summary

SOLEIL recherche un Beamline Manager (SMIS) pour diriger et développer les activités scientifiques et techniques du beamline SMIS, en assurant la continuité opérationnelle dans le cadre de SOLEIL II.

Le candidat idéal possède une expérience dans un établissement de grande envergure et une expertise en spectroscopie infrarouge et microscopie associée à des sources synchrotron, avec un fort potentiel de leadership et de gestion de projets.

Qualifications

• Expérience dans une grande installation de recherche / équipement utilisateur.
• Expertise reconnue en spectroscopie et microscopie infrarouge associée à des sources synchrotron.
• Solide palmarès scientifique avec publications de haut niveau.
• Expérience en développement d’instruments et traduction des besoins scientifiques en capacités expérimentales.
• Forte capacité de leadership, gestion, travail d’équipe et gestion de projets.

Responsibilities

• Diriger et développer les activités scientifiques, techniques et de service à la clientèle de SMIS au SOLEIL.
• Gérer l’opération future du beamline avec SOLEIL II.
• Conduire la mise à niveau du beamline dans le cadre du plan SOLEIL II.
• Maintenir et développer les capacités du beamline et assurer des performances instrumentales élevées.
• Développer un programme de recherche indépendant et favoriser les collaborations nationales et internationales.
• Renforcer l’impact scientifique et la communauté d’utilisateurs par des collaborations et des activités outreach.
• Assurer la conformité avec les réglementations de SOLEIL (sécurité et support utilisateur).
• Des expertises en biologie, sciences biomédicales, hautes pressions ou physique des near-field seront considérées comme un atout.

Skills

Leadership

Management

Teamwork

Project management

Strategic collaboration

Tools

Infrared spectroscopy

Microscopy

Instrument development

Job description

Located on the Paris-Saclay plateau, about 20 kilometers from the capital, the SOLEIL synchrotron is one of France’s leading research facilities. Since it began operating in 2008, it has served the national and international scientific communities. Research conducted at SOLEIL covers a wide range of scientific and industrial fields — including physics, biology, chemistry, materials science, environmental science, Earth sciences, and cultural and natural heritage — all connected to current societal challenges. Experiments carried out on the beamlines rely on the use of synchrotron light emitted by electrons accelerated to nearly the speed of light within a storage ring. SOLEIL is jointly supervised by the CNRS and the CEA and offers its staff a dynamic, innovative, multidisciplinary, and international working environment.

At the forefront of technology, SOLEIL II is an ambitious project designed to provide new opportunities for scientific and industrial research. SOLEIL II consists of a major upgrade of the existing infrastructure and aims to significantly improve the performance of electron accelerators and beamlines. It is designed to address major current and future societal challenges, particularly in areas such as advanced materials research, energy and sustainable development, health and well-being, and the environment. Construction work on the SOLEIL II project began in 2024, marking the start of a phase of development and technological innovation. In parallel, the existing facility will remain operational until May 2029. SOLEIL II is scheduled to start operations in 2030, with a gradual ramp-up phase continuing until 2035.

I.Context and mission

SMIS (Spectroscopy and Microscopy in the Infrared using Synchrotron https://www.synchrotron-soleil.fr/en/beamlines/smis ) beamline uses the edge and bending radiation from a bending magnet of the SOLEIL DBA lattice. The two sources, simultaneously used, provide light to two independent experimental rooms, each equipped with multiple infrared spectromicroscopy endstations providing diffraction limited and sub-diffraction limit spatial resolution. In addition to synchrotron-based experiments, SMIS offers complementary, off-line measurements, such as Raman microscopy, O-PTIR, FTIR Imaging, FTIR Müller polarimetry, FTIR spectromicroscopy, high-pressure experiments and nanoIR imaging and spectroscopy using thermal sources and lasers. The SMIS beamline reaches a diverse community of researchers, with specialties in biology, biomedical science, astrophysics, geology, environmental sciences, soft and condensed matter physics and chemistry.

A large variety of sample environments have been developed and are available featuring mechanical stress (single axis stretching for polymers, diamond anvil cells up to 100 GPa), temperature control from 4.2 to 1000 K, and microfluidic devices. The most recent beamline review document is available upon request. The upgrade of SMIS to the fourth-generation synchrotron source SOLEIL II is underway.

Position : Beamline Manager (SMIS) Mise à jour : 16/4/26 Référence: EXP-115B EXP

II. Responsibilities and tasks

The Beamline Responsible will lead and further develop the scientific, technical, and user-service activities of the SMIS beamline at SOLEIL. She/he will have to ensure the future operation of the SMIS beamline with SOLEIL II.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the beamline team, comprising two beamline scientists, one technician, and associated non-permanent scientists, within the Experimental Division and under the responsibility of the Scientific Director.
• Upgrading the beamline in the frame of the SOLEIL II upgrade plan project.
• Maintaining and developing the beamline’s capabilities, ensuring the highest standards of instrument performance, reliability, and user support.
• Developing an independent research programme, making full use of SMIS’s advanced instrumentation and capabilities.
• Strengthening the beamline’s scientific impact and user community by developing collaborations and outreach activities with French and international research communities.
• Expanding the scientific scope of the beamline, including the development of new research themes alongside its established activities.
• Ensuring compliance with SOLEIL regulations, including those governing user support, safety, and security.
• Expertise in biology, biomedical sciences, high-pressure science, or near-field physics will be considered as a significant advantage.

III.Profile

The successful candidate will have:

• Proven experience in a large-scale research/user facility, preferably in a synchrotron environment.
• Recognized expertise in synchrotron-based infrared spectroscopy and microscopy.
• A strong scientific track record, demonstrated through high-level publications and scientific achievements.
• Proven experience in instrument development and the ability to translate scientific needs into new or improved experimental capabilities.
• Strong leadership, management, teamwork, and project-management skills.
• The ability to build national and international collaborations and engage effectively with a diverse scientific user community.

IV.Working conditions

This is a fixed-term contract The position is based in Saint-Aubin (Essonne), at the SOLEIL Synchrotron.

If you are looking for a position in a company built on the pillars of scientific excellence and technological innovation, SOLEIL offers you the opportunity to:

• Work within an innovative, multidisciplinary, and multicultural research laboratory.
• Be at the heart of the research and development dynamics of the Paris-Saclay cluster.
• Collaborate with national and international experts across diverse scientific and technical fields.
• Take advantage of Paris being only 25 km away, offering rich cultural experiences and a vibrant lifestyle.
• Undertake short trips within France or Europe.

Benefits :

• 26 days of paid vacation + up to 2 additional split days + 23 RTT (reduction of working time) days per full year of work, based on a 40-hour work week.
• Mandatory health insurance (basic plan) costs €20.35 per month for the employee (with an employer contribution of €203.53 corresponding to 90% of the premium), covering household members (spouse/partner + children).
• We also offer an optional supplementary health plan for €28.43 per month covering your household (spouse/partner + children).
• Access to a provident scheme that supplements the benefits of the mandatory French Social Security system, which are often insufficient. It compensates for loss of income in case of inability to work, ensuring the standard of living of the insured and their family in difficult circumstances: death, incapacity for work, or disability resulting from illness or accident.
• Possibility to open a Time Savings Account (CET) after one year of seniority.
• On-site corporate catering at SOLEIL, with subsidized meals.
• Family-related benefits depending on individual situations: family allowance supplement, additional days off under certain circumstances, marriage and birth bonuses, etc.