Instrument Associate

European Spallation Source ERIC; Lunds kommun; On-site; SEK 550,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

The European Spallation Source ERIC invites applications for an Instrument Associate with the DREAM instrument in Lund, Sweden. You will join the Diffraction & Imaging Division to support first neutron operation and ongoing instrument maintenance alongside engineers and scientists.

You are a hands-on team player with excellent English, capable of contributing to safety, testing, and user support in a world-class neutron facility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the Sciences.
• Proven experience working cross‑department with scientists, engineers, technicians and users.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in English.
• Experience testing, maintaining and operating complex equipment in large facilities.
• Experience with experiments and user support at large facilities.
• Hands-on, team‑oriented and collaborative attitude.

Responsibilities

• Join a team of scientists, engineers, and technicians to prepare a neutron instrument for first user operation and beyond.
• Collaborate with Instrument Associates, engineers, and technicians in specialist disciplines.
• Prepare safety documentation, standard operating procedures, and operations manuals for the instrument.
• Assist in testing and hot commissioning with neutrons.
• Plan, manage and perform maintenance of the instrument as needed.
• Act as the system owner and keep maintenance records and docs up to date.
• Coordinate with technology groups and support teams, and with operational groups.
• Support user experiments by building mechanical/electrical support systems and setting up sample environments; write hazard analyses and train users.

Skills

Bachelor/Master in Science

Team collaboration

Communication skills

English proficiency

Python

Matlab

C++

Large facilities

Powder diffraction

International environment

Education

Bachelor/Master in the Sciences

Tools

Python

Matlab

C++

Job description

The European Spallation Source (ESS) is one of the largest science and technology infrastructure projects being built today. ESS will soon be the world’s most powerful source of neutrons, providing researchers with unique opportunities to explore the structure of materials at the atomic level. Neutron scattering at ESS will address critical questions in physics, chemistry, geology, materials science and life science.

We are now looking for an Instrument Associate for the DREAM instrument. All the physical installations at the instrument are completed, and the team is getting ready for the hot commissioning with neutrons. The position is with the Diffraction & Imaging Division.

About the division

The Diffraction & Imaging Division consists of the scientific staff that is leading the instrument construction projects and the staff that will eventually execute the day-to-day operations of six neutron instruments. The upcoming responsibilities of the division are

• Finalize the installation and commissioning of all instruments in the division
• Deliver state-of-the-art scientific capabilities for internal and external users to enable the wider science community to advance science and technology
• Deliver scientific results from the neutron instruments in collaboration with the user community and other divisions in the science directorate
• Plan and implement further developments and upgrades of the instruments
• Push the state-of-the-art capabilities of neutron instrumentation to make maximum benefit from the ESS source.

Responsibilities

• Join a team of scientists, engineers, and technicians aiming to prepare a neutron instrument for first user operation and beyond
• Collaborate closely with Instrument Associates, engineers, and technicians in specialist disciplines at ESS
• Support the instrument scientists by preparing safety documentation, including standard operating procedures and operations manuals for an instrument.
• Support the instrument scientists in preparing, executing and documenting testing of an instrument with neutrons (“hot commissioning”)
• Plan, manage and/or execute scheduled and unscheduled maintenance of the instrument
• Act as the system owner for an instrument, keeping the maintenance records and engineering documentation up to date with changes.
• Coordination with specialized technology groups (Choppers, Detectors, Motion Control, etc.) and support teams (vacuum, rigging, survey and alignment)
• Working with operational groups (Hall Coordinators, ESH, Control Room Operators)
• Support user experiments on the instrument by e.g. building mechanical and/or electrical support systems in the in-house workshop, and helping to set up sample environments, which includes:
• Writing and Review of Experiment Hazard Analyses
• Providing assistance in sample mounting
• Setting up instrument configurations
• Assisting in user experiments, including training users on instrument operations

Required skills & experience

We are looking for a self-motivated person who is keen to support an instrument team in order to get it ready for the first neutrons. You should be a ‘hands-on’ person and open to learning new things along the way. We attach great importance to personality and attitude, so we're looking for a real team player: Someone who is sociable, has excellent communication skills, and who likes to collaborate with different people. You will have:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in the Sciences
• Proven experience, supported by reference letters, of being an effective team member, facilitating cross-department interactions with scientists, engineers, technicians, and operational support groups, as well as external collaborators and users
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to be able to interact effectively with a diverse group of scientists, engineers, and technical staff, including experience of communicating technical information clearly in both written and verbal form, documenting procedures, creating maintenance documentation, test reports, or safety-related documentation
• Experience in testing, supporting, maintaining, and operating complex technical equipment in large-scale user facilities
• Experience with experiments and user support at large-scale user facilities
• Excellent oral and written English skills

Physical requirements for this job include the use of hand, eye and ear protection gear, stooping, kneeling, lifting, and sitting or standing for extended periods of time.

• Experience in programming (python, Matlab, C++ or similar)
• Experience working in an international research environment
• Practical experience in operating complex sample environments relating to powder diffraction and imaging

Duration & Location

The position is a 3 year fixed term role and the workplace will be situated in Lund, Sweden. Travelling is expected if the need arises.

A career at ESS gives you the opportunity to contribute to the future discoveries within neutron science at a stunning, brand-new workplace filled with innovative minds and brilliant people from across the globe. We offer market competitive, individualised compensation which is differentiated according to role, responsibilities, individual skills, abilities and achievements as well as monthly pension contributions on top of your salary.

This role requires additional security screening processes, which will be performed during the recruitment or onboarding process.