Controls and Protection Systems Engineer, SSRL

SLAC; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory’s SSRL seeks a controls and protection systems engineer to bridge hardware, software, and beamline science. You will help ensure safety and reliability of protection systems while developing motion control and safety electronics for advanced instruments.

You will build production-level HMIs, GUIs, and dashboards, document changes, and collaborate with accelerator scientists, engineers, and operations staff to enable world-class experiments and safe beam

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field.
• Experience troubleshooting complex systems in mixed-technology environments.
• Experience documenting engineering changes and SOPs/runbooks.
• Experience developing operator interfaces (HMIs, GUIs, dashboards) using Python or similar.
• Ability to design motion control systems.
• Experience in electrical conditioning-circuits (optical switches, encoders, detectors).
• Comfortable with Linux CLI and scientific computing tools.
• Strong cross-team communication.

Responsibilities

• Provide 24/7 on-call support for protection systems during beam operations.
• Troubleshoot and validate protection system interlocks alongside motion control and instrumentation.
• Assist with test procedures and interlock chain testing during shutdowns.
• Develop motion control systems and experimental instrumentation with scientists and technicians.
• Lead projects from concept to installation, coordinating fabrication and schedules.
• Create and maintain HMIs, GUIs, and dashboards for protection systems and instrumentation.
• Maintain system documentation and apply change control to safety-critical systems.

Skills

Python

Motion control

HMIs/GUIs

Interlocks

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field

Tools

EPICS

Galil motion controllers

FPGA (VHDL)

Job description

Controls and Protection Systems Engineer, SSRL

Job Overview

Position Overview

Join the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory as a controls and protection systems engineer, working at the intersection of hardware, software, and beamline science. You will solve complex technical problems in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment where engineering decisions directly enable breakthrough research on cutting-edge experimental instrumentation.

This role balances operational support and system engineering: you will join the team that maintains the existing protection systems, keeping this world-class particle accelerator facility running, while also developing motion control and safety systems for advanced scientific experimental equipment. Alongside the hardware work, you will build the software, automation, and operator interfaces (HMIs, GUIs, and dashboards) that scientists and operators rely on to run experiments. You will help ensure that personnel, the storage ring, and the advanced scientific instrumentation that depends on it are protected, critical to enabling the high-impact research performed by SSRL's international research community.

Responsibilities

• Operational Support: Participate in a shared on-call responsibility to provide 24/7 support for critical Protection Systems, primarily during beam operations. Work closely with accelerator physics, operations, vacuum, controls, and experimental systems groups to ensure protection systems meet the evolving needs of SSRL's scientific user program.
• Facility Support: Troubleshoot, repair, and validate protection system interlocks alongside motion control, data acquisition, and specialized synchrotron radiation instrumentation to minimize downtime for the SSRL scientific user program.
• Commissioning & Testing: Assist with the development of test procedures and with testing of interlock chains during maintenance shutdowns to verify that logic correctly inhibits beam operation under fault conditions.
• Systems Design: Develop motion control systems and specialized experimental instrumentation, collaboratively with a group of scientists and technical staff. Research and specify components such as stages, motors, drivers, and encoders.
• Project Supervision: Follow through on instrumentation development and installation projects from initial concept through design review sessions, culminating with directing electronics and mechanical technicians in the fabrication and installation of novel devices. Schedule fabrication and coordinate activities to ensure project deadlines are met on time.
• Operator Interfaces: Develop and maintain production-level HMIs, GUIs, and operator dashboards for protection systems, motion control, and experimental instrumentation, enabling effective monitoring and control by operators, scientists, and engineering staff.
• Engineering Documentation: Produce and maintain system documentation – interlock logic, I/O lists, test procedures, configuration records, and operational notes – keeping it current through upgrade, commissioning, and troubleshooting activities. Apply configuration management, version control, and formal change control to safety-critical protection systems in accordance with the SLAC Conduct of Engineering.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related engineering discipline, and a minimum of 2 years of experience.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex systems, particularly in "mixed-technology" environments where state-of-the-art and legacy equipment co-exist.
• Experience documenting engineering changes and writing standard operating procedures (SOPs) or comparable technical documentation (design docs, runbooks, API references).
• Experience developing operator interfaces (HMIs, GUIs, or dashboards) for engineering or scientific systems, using Python or comparable languages and frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to design motion control systems.
• Experience in the design of electrical conditioning-circuits is required, such as for optical switches, incremental and absolute encoders, x-ray ionization chambers, and PIN diode detectors.
• Comfortable working in Linux command-line environments; familiarity with standard scientific computing and office tools.
• Effective communication skills across multidisciplinary teams, including scientific, engineering, and operations-focused personnel.
• Willingness to provide occasional 24/7 support for assigned systems.

Preferred Requirements

• Master's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field.
• Experience working in an accelerator or scientific facility. Experience integrating controls and data-acquisition software (e.g., EPICS, Python) with beam diagnostics, motion control, digitizers, radiation monitors, vacuum instrumentation, and related subsystems.
• Experience with use of Galil digital motion controllers and EPICS for classical stepper motors, IMS stepper motors, and brushless servo-motors is highly advantageous.
• Knowledge of embedded systems development and FPGA programming of Xilinx Spartan chips with VHDL and/or Modelsim is highly advantageous.
• Use of Protel schematic capture and PCB payout software for SMT and through-hole components is advantageous.
• Effective Decisions: Uses job knowledge and solid judgment to make quality decisions in a timely manner.
• Self-Development: Pursues a variety of venues and opportunities to continue learning and developing.
• Dependability: Can be counted on delivering results with a sense of personal responsibility for expected outcomes.
• Initiative: Pursues work and interactions proactively with optimism, positive energy, and motivation to move things forward.
• Adaptability: Flexes as needed when change occurs and maintains an open outlook while adjusting and accommodating changes.
• Communication: Ensures effective information flow to various audiences and creates and delivers clear, appropriate messages.
• Relationships: Builds relationships to foster trust, collaboration, and a positive climate to achieve common goals.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.

Work Standards

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for environment, safety and security; communicates related concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Meets the applicable roles and responsibilities as described in the ESH Manual, Chapter 1 General Policy and Responsibilities: http://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/pdfs/ESHch01.pdf
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu
• As a national laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

Grade: K Job Code: 0132

Duration: Regular continuing

The expected pay range for this position is $134,906 - $164,965 per annum. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory/Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs. At SLAC/Stanford, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package.

Minimum Qualifications

• Fixed Term N
• SLAC Business Area Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource Directorate (SSRL)
• Locations Menlo Park, CA, United States
• Job Schedule Full time
• Regular or Temporary Regular
• Job Category Research - Engineering
• Posting Date 05/23/2026, 12:00 AM
• Grade K
• Job Identification 6784

Benefits that support you, and your future

18+ PTO days per year

Health benefits start when you start

Flexible work options

$6000+ annual tuition and training assistance

403k plan

Mental health and wellness programs

Free and discounted commuter transportation

Applies to regular full-time positions.

Why work at SLAC

Bold People

To achieve our ambitious goals and keep SLAC a great place to work, the lab needs people with a wide variety of experiences, ideas, skills and backgrounds.

Visionary Science

We explore how the universe works at the biggest, smallest and fastest scales and invent powerful tools used by scientists around the globe.

Real Impact

Our research helps solve real-world problems and advances the interests of the nation.