Division Director - Cryogenics Division

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 229,608 - 276,025; Full time

Job summary

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park seeks a visionary Cryogenics Division Director to lead cryogenic operations, maintenance, and engineering for the accelerator program, including LCLS-II systems.

The role requires directing resources, budgets, and staff to ensure reliable, safe, and efficient operations while advancing cryogenic technology and integration with future facilities. Onsite work is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or a related field with at least ten years of relevant experience.
• Experience leading a large 24/7 technical operations team with multidisciplinary staff and significant infrastructure.
• Experience managing a large organization through subordinate managers and talent development.
• Experience defining engineering, maintenance, and operational best practices.
• Experience managing staff in matrixed organizations.
• Ability to resolve complex issues with sound decisions in a collaborative environment.
• Ability to build effective cross-organizational relationships.
• Demonstrated strategic planning and organizational leadership capability.
• Experience with large-scale cryogenic or superconducting systems.
• Strong verbal and written communication with senior management.

Responsibilities

• Lead a complex technical organization supporting accelerator operations and development.
• Ensure reliable operation and readiness of the LCLS-II cryoplant and infrastructure.
• Direct division resources including staffing, budget, infrastructure, and maintenance activities.
• Lead maintenance planning, lifecycle management, and reliability improvements.
• Promote disciplined operations, safety, reliability, and continuous improvement.
• Establish ES&H goals and objectives for the organization.
• Serve on Accelerator Directorate senior management team.
• Implement Conduct of Engineering principles for cryogenic systems.
• Support future accelerator initiatives requiring cryogenic expertise.
• Collaborate with operations, engineering, physics, and project orgs.
• Identify and resolve complex issues requiring broad technical judgment.
• Develop and retain a highly capable workforce.
• Communicate operational performance and resource needs to leadership.
• Manage adoption of emerging technologies for reliability.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Cryogenic systems

Operations management

Budgeting

Staff development

Strategic planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Safety & ES&H

Communication

DOE project experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or related field

Job description

Position Overview

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is seeking an outstanding candidate to lead the Cryogenics Division within the Accelerator Directorate (AD). The Cryogenics Division is responsible for the operation, engineering, maintenance, and continuous improvement of cryogenic systems supporting SLAC accelerator facilities, including the superconducting accelerator systems of the Linac Coherent Light Source II (LCLS-II). These systems are critical to safe, reliable, and efficient accelerator operations and play an essential role in enabling SLAC scientific user facilities and future accelerator initiatives.

The Cryogenics Division Director manages the resources, budget, and activities associated with cryogenic operations and engineering, including cryoplant operations, maintenance planning, system reliability, engineering support, upgrades, commissioning, and operational readiness. The Director is responsible for ensuring disciplined operations, strong engineering practices, and effective integration of cryogenic systems into SLAC accelerator operations and future facility initiatives.

This position reports to the AD Deputy Associate Laboratory Director for Operations and requires onsite work.

Responsibilities

• Lead a complex technical organization responsible for cryogenic systems supporting accelerator operations and development programs.
• Ensure reliable operation and operational readiness of the LCLS-II cryoplant and associated cryogenic infrastructure.
• Direct division resources, including staffing, budget, infrastructure, and maintenance activities, to ensure safe, effective, and efficient operations.
• Lead maintenance planning, lifecycle management, and operational reliability improvements for cryogenic systems, including spare parts planning and outage coordination.
• Promote a culture of disciplined operations, operational readiness, safety, reliability, and continuous improvement across cryogenic operations and engineering activities.
• Establish and maintain ES&H goals and objectives for the organization to ensure protection of personnel, the public, and the environment.
• Serve as a core member of the Accelerator Directorate senior management team.
• Establish and maintain processes and policies consistent with SLAC and AD Conduct of Engineering principles to ensure disciplined design, operation, maintenance, and modification of cryogenic systems.
• Support future accelerator and infrastructure initiatives requiring cryogenic systems expertise, including upgrades and new facility capabilities.
• Collaborate closely with operations, engineering, physics, maintenance, and project organizations to support high-performance accelerator operations and scientific user programs.
• Identify, clarify, and resolve complex technical and organizational issues requiring broad technical judgment and cross‑functional coordination.
• Build, develop, and retain a highly capable technical workforce, including succession planning and staff development.
• Communicate regularly with Directorate leadership regarding operational performance, priorities, risks, and resource needs.
• Manage the adoption of emerging technologies and operational improvements supporting cryogenic reliability, maintainability, and performance.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or a 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 team working 24/7, involving multidisciplinary teams, significant infrastructure, and operational risk.
• Demonstrated experience 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Experience supporting the operation or development of large scientific or industrial facilities.
• Experience with superconducting accelerator systems or cryogenic plant operations.
• Experience with reliability engineering, maintenance strategy, and operational performance improvement.
• Formal training or experience in systems engineering or project management.
• Experience applying Conduct of Engineering principles in complex operational environments.
• Experience managing represented employees.
• Experience supporting DOE‑funded projects or large infrastructure programs.

SLAC Manager Competencies

• Results Through Others: Achieves expected results by effectively delegating and managing the work of others.
• Aligns Priorities: Ensures planning and prioritization of resources and work efforts; aligns direct and matrix reports to organizational goals.
• Applies Lab Acumen: Maintains understanding of lab efforts and direction, current research and trends, considers technology and customer impacts, and contributes relevant, informed ideas to lab growth.
• Navigates Complexity: Demonstrates effective problem‑solving and decision‑making in complex situations; manages a multitude of information and circumstances to discern what is most important.
• Communication: Ensures effective information flow to various audiences and delivers clear written and spoken messages.
• Relationships: Builds relationships to foster trust, collaboration, and a positive climate to achieve common goals.
• Self‑awareness: Seeks feedback and takes ownership of actions to address learned insights; pursues continuous learning opportunities.
• Team Effectiveness: Motivates team members and fosters a diverse, collaborative environment; leverages individual strengths for overall effectiveness.
• Purpose & Vision: Articulates a clear vision of expected outcomes; inspires others to execute work plans and feel a sense of purpose and ownership for the mission.
• Attracts & Develops Employee Talent: Plans for, attracts, and hires the right talent; focuses on growing internal talent through organizational and staff development.

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 SLAC colleagues and external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns and promotes safe behaviors.
• Compliance: Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures.
• Identity Verification: Must obtain and maintain a HSPD‑12 Personal Identity Verification Credential; background investigation requirements depend on job duties.

Job Classification

Title: Research Technical Manager 3

Grade: N

Job Code: 4988

Duration: Regular Continuing

Pay Range

The expected pay range for this position is $229,608 to $276,025 per annum. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as 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.