Controls & Data Systems Engineer - EPICS & Instrumentation

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory seeks a Controls and Data Systems Integration Engineer within the ECS division of LCLS to design, implement, and sustain advanced hardware and software for scientific instrumentation.

You will lead system installations, manage lifecycle of controls and data systems, develop EPICS-based software, and collaborate with scientists and operations teams to optimize data workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus 3+ years in scientific instrumentation or controls.
• Ability to learn a broad range of hardware and software systems.
• Strong C/C++ and Python skills in Linux/Unix environments.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and teamwork.
• Proven project management, planning, and organizational abilities.
• Understanding of the scientific function of complex X-ray instrumentation systems.

Responsibilities

• Plan, install, validate experimental systems with requirements and acceptance testing.
• Manage lifecycle of controls and data systems including upgrades and sustainment.
• Design/maintain control architectures: PLCs, I/O, embedded controllers, timing, Linux IOCs.
• Develop EPICS-based control/DAQ software and operator interfaces; document.
• Integrate controls/hardware: detectors, motion, vacuum, lasers, facility infra.
• Collaborate to optimize data acquisition, metadata handling, and data flow.
• Lead reconfiguration/upgrades with version control and change management.
• Support operations/commissioning, troubleshooting during maintenance and user ops.
• Participate in subsystem upgrades and evaluate/select solutions.
• Diagnose cross-domain issues with structured troubleshooting and root-cause analysis.
• Translate needs into controls/DAQ specs, test plans, and procedures.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Linux/Unix

Communication

Project management

Instrumentation knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in physics, computer science, engineering, or related field

Tools

EPICS

Job description

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory seeks a Controls and Data Systems Integration Engineer within the ECS division of LCLS to design, implement, and sustain advanced hardware and software for scientific instrumentation.

You will lead system installations, manage lifecycle of controls and data systems, develop EPICS-based software, and collaborate with scientists and operations teams to optimize data workflows.