Beamline Experimentalist - Radiation Effects on Electronics

Space Radiation Services; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consulting firm in Manchester is seeking a Beamline Experimentalist. This role focuses on radiation effects on electronics and is open to various experience levels. Key responsibilities include planning and executing irradiation tests, analyzing test data, and working directly with clients. The position can be tailored to part-time or full-time hours, with fully remote options, and involves some international travel. Ideal candidates hold a PhD in a relevant field and have hands-on beamline experience.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Competitive compensation

Remote work opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience testing semiconductor devices or detectors preferred.
• Able to travel internationally for beamline campaigns.
• Able to make independent decisions during experiments.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute irradiation tests (protons, neutrons, heavy ions).
• Set up devices under test and data acquisition systems.
• Analyse test data and write clear technical reports.

Skills

Hands-on experience at a beamline or accelerator facility

PhD in Physics, Materials Science, or Electrical Engineering

Proficiency in technical writing

Ability to manage multiple projects

Education

PhD in relevant field

Job description

Company Overview

Space Radiation Services was established three years ago and is headquartered in the UK and has a presence in the US. Our main business is engineering consulting and research for space systems, focused on radiation testing, analysis and design. We have supported over 50 companies across ten countries, ranging from sub-system / component suppliers up to satellite manufacturers and constellation providers.

Our goal is to ensure our clients’ hardware survives the radiation environments of space. We do this through a mixture of analysis, desk based research, testing, and the implementation of changes to both electrical and software designs.

Job Summary

We are looking for the right person who can learn and contribute rather than focusing on a predefined level of experience or seniority. Thus, we offer a flexible role for a Beamline Experimentalist with focus on Radiation Effects on Electronics, from entry level to director level.

The role involves supporting clients with analysis, experiment / test development, testing and design applications of electronics for space.

Your key contributions will be to plan and execute irradiation campaigns, work directly at international beamlines, analyse results, and help shape how devices are tested for use in space. This is a role with autonomy, responsibility, and clear impact. You must be comfortable working independently at beamlines and making decisions during runs.

• This role suits a physicist or engineer with hands-on beamline experience who wants to move into applied space work.
• Applicants must be British Citizens due to work in the defence industry and to comply with export control regulations.
• The role is flexible and can be part-time, full-time, or full-time with compressed hours to help with childcare etc
• Remote Work : This role is fully remote with flexibility of work hours. However, we do require the availability to work late two days per week to accommodate meeting schedules of international customers
• International Travel : Some international travel for testing purposes is required, likely to be in the range of 2 - 4 weeks per year (negotiable)
• Competitive Compensation : We ensure that your compensation will be commensurate with your level of experience

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute irradiation tests (protons, neutrons, heavy ions etc).
• Set up devices under test and data acquisition systems.
• Adjust experiments in real time based on results.
• Analyse test data and write clear technical reports.
• Work with customers to define test objectives and interpret results.
• Maintain documentation and contribute to test methods.
• Run radiation transport codes to verify test setups and evaluate hardware.

Other responsibilities which can be learnt on the job

• Evaluating customer designs and components, developing approaches for improvements such as part substitutions, design changes and mitigations
• Research into the radiation effects on similar components or systems to develop an understanding of radiation effects and potential best practice
• Running on-orbit radiation simulations to predict radiation effects on hardware

Experience and Skills

• PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or similar.
• Hands-on experience at a beamline or accelerator facility.
• Experience testing semiconductor devices or detectors preferred.
• Able to make independent decisions during experiments.
• Proficiency in technical writing to effectively communicate complex concepts
• Ability to manage multiple projects with competing priorities
• Independent and proactive, with an ability to learn new skills on the job
• Able to travel internationally for beamline campaigns (typically 2 - 6 days at a time).

Desirable but not required

• Prior experience in the space industry
• Understanding of space qualification standards