Cryogenic Systems Director — Accelerator Operations

Stanfordlivetickets; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 230,000 - 276,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Flexible work options

Tuition and training assistance

Pension/retirement plan

Wellness programs

Job summary

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory seeks a leader to direct the Cryogenics Division within the Accelerator Directorate. The role oversees cryogenic systems across accelerator facilities, including LCLS-II, ensuring safe operations, reliability, and continuous improvement.

You will manage resources, budgets, maintenance planning, and enterprise-wide policies, reporting to the AD Deputy Associate Laboratory Director for Operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or related field and a minimum of ten years of relevant experience in engineering, operations, technical infrastructure, or large technical programs.
• Demonstrated experience leading and managing a large, complex technical operations 24 by 7 involving multidisciplinary teams, significant infrastructure, and operational risk.
• Demonstrated experience leading and managing a large organization of technical and operations staff through subordinate managers, including success in attracting, developing, and retaining staff.
• Demonstrated experience defining and implementing engineering, maintenance, and operational best practices and processes.
• Demonstrated experience managing staff in matrixed organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve complex technical and organizational issues and make sound decisions in a collaborative and respectful environment.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships across organizations and facilitate cross-functional efforts.
• Demonstrated strategic planning and organizational leadership capability.
• Demonstrated experience with large-scale cryogenic systems, industrial process systems, superconducting accelerator systems, or similarly complex technical infrastructure.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with technical staff and senior management.

Responsibilities

• Leading a complex technical organization responsible for cryogenic systems supporting accelerator operations and development programs.
• Ensuring reliable operation and operational readiness of the LCLS-II cryoplant and associated cryogenic infrastructure.
• Directing division resources, including staffing, budget, infrastructure, and maintenance activities, to ensure safe, effective, and efficient operations.
• Leading maintenance planning, lifecycle management, and operational reliability improvements for cryogenic systems, including spare parts planning and outage coordination.
• Promoting a culture of disciplined operations, operational readiness, safety, reliability, and continuous improvement across cryogenic operations and engineering activities.
• Establishing and maintaining ES&H goals and objectives for the organization to ensure protection of personnel, the public, and the environment.
• Serving as a core member of the Accelerator Directorate senior management team.
• Establishing and maintaining processes and policies consistent with SLAC and AD Conduct of Engineering principles to ensure disciplined design, operation, maintenance, and modification of cryogenic systems.
• Supporting future accelerator and infrastructure initiatives requiring cryogenic systems expertise, including upgrades and new facility capabilities.
• Collaborating closely with operations, engineering, physics, maintenance, and project organizations to support high-performance accelerator operations and scientific user programs.
• Identifying, clarifying, and resolving complex technical and organizational issues requiring broad technical judgment and cross-functional coordination.
• Building, developing, and retaining a highly capable technical workforce, including succession planning and staff development.
• Communicating regularly with Directorate leadership regarding operational performance, priorities, risks, and resource needs.
• Managing the adoption of emerging technologies and operational improvements supporting cryogenic reliability, maintainability, and performance.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Cross-functional coordination

Strategic planning

Safety culture

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or related field

Advanced degree (MS or PhD) preferred

Tools

Cryogenic systems

Cryoplant operations

Maintenance planning

Job description

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory seeks a leader to direct the Cryogenics Division within the Accelerator Directorate. The role oversees cryogenic systems across accelerator facilities, including LCLS-II, ensuring safe operations, reliability, and continuous improvement.

You will manage resources, budgets, maintenance planning, and enterprise-wide policies, reporting to the AD Deputy Associate Laboratory Director for Operations.