Controls Engineer

Fermilab; Batavia (IL); On-site; USD 89,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision and FSA

Paid time off

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Retirement benefits

Onsite day care

Job summary

Fermilab, in Illinois, is seeking a Controls Engineer to design electronics, firmware and software for readout systems and real-time control of detector and accelerator components.

The role involves developing data-intensive specifications, firmware for timing and low-latency acquisition, and software interfaces for operators. Collaboration with physicists and engineers is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field with 2+ years of systems engineering experience.
• Experience in circuit design, synthesis and validation for signal processing prototypes.
• Experience designing firmware and software frameworks for scientific experiments.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement electronics systems, firmware and software to read out sensor data and control experiments.
• Develop specifications for data-intensive readout systems for detectors and accelerators.
• Create firmware for MCUs and FPGAs for timing, synchronization and low-latency data acquisition.
• Develop software to interface with firmware and hardware for users to operate components.
• Plan multi-month readout and control system projects and document milestones.

Skills

Electronics design

Firmware engineering

Software development

Signal processing

FPGA

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

The expected hiring range for this position is:

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such the scope and responsibilities of the position, qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

The expected hiring range for this position is:

$88,800 - $145,000

About the Role:

Join the Fermilab team at the Computational Science and AI Directorate (CSAID) as a Controls Engineer! In this role, you will design and implement electronics systems, firmware, and software to read out sensor data and control experiments.

What your day-to-day as a Controls Engineer at Fermilab will look like:

• Design and implement electronics systems, firmware, and software to read out sensor data and control experiments.
• Develop specifications and requirements for data-intensive experimental readout systems for scientific experiments, detectors, and accelerators at Fermilab and the DOE.
• Design and implement firmware for microcontrollers and FPGAs that manage timing, synchronization, and low-latency data acquisition on detector frontend modules, enabling real-time trigger decisions, error-correction handling, and closed-loop feedback control for precise regulation of detector operating parameters.
• Develop software to interface with firmware and hardware components for users to operate detector and accelerator components.
• Plan months-long projects for a readout system to deliver readout and control systems on time and budget.
• Document findings, report on, and present deliverables and milestones to project stakeholders.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams of physicists, technicians, and engineers to support the scientific goals of experiments, detectors, and accelerators.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or the foreign equivalent, and 2 years of relevant experience in systems engineering, including at least 1 (one) year of experience in: (1) using circuit design, synthesis, and validation tools to develop signal processing prototypes and products; (2) designing firmware and software frameworks for engineering projects in scientific experiments; and (3) developing firmware for programming electronic readout systems.

Work Arrangement:

Telecommuting may be permissible from anywhere in the United States, subject to approval.

Please note that the described work arrangement is subject to change based on business needs and is not guaranteed to be final.

Travel:

None

Benefits/Perks:

Fermilab offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program, including:

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid time off
• Life insurance
• Short and Long-term disability insurance
• Retirement benefits
• Onsite day care

Why Fermilab:

Fermilab is America’s premier laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. We support discovery science experiments in Illinois and locations around the world, including deep underground mines in South Dakota and Canada, mountaintops in Arizona and Chile, CERN in Europe and the South Pole.

Pre-Employment Screening:

Drug-Free Workplace & Pre-Employment Screening

Fermilab is dedicated to fostering a safe, productive and drug-free environment. An offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and drug screening.

HSPD-12

In accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) new employees are required to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a federal background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.

Foreign Government Sponsored Activities

Fermilab employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. Such individuals will be asked to disclose any participation for review by Fermilab's Office of General Counsel.

REAL-ID Requirement for access to Fermilab Campus

Fermilab requires all members of the public to produce a REAL-ID, or equivalent, to access the Fermilab Campus for interviews or career events. A list of acceptable forms of ID can be found here: https://get-connected.fnal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/REALID-Documents.pdf. If a candidate is selected for an interview but does not possess any of the equivalent documents, we may schedule a virtual interview.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Fermilab is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.