High Level RF Engineer

Fermilab; Batavia (IL); On-site; USD 88,800 - 116,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision and Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid time off

Life insurance

Short and Long-term disability insurance

Retirement benefits

Onsite day care

Job summary

Fermilab is seeking a highly motivated Electrical Engineer in Batavia, Illinois, to support operations for existing and future particle accelerators. The role involves designing and maintaining high-power RF systems, collaborating with engineers to enhance system performance, and troubleshooting. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in engineering with relevant experience in RF systems, and hands-on skills with electronic hardware. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid time off, and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of engineering experience or 2+ years with advanced degrees.
• Experience with RF systems for linacs and synchrotrons is highly desired.
• Knowledge of high frequency analog circuits hardware design.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, implement and maintain hardware for high-power RF systems.
• Participate in the daily operation of RF systems for linacs and synchrotrons.
• Collaborate with technical staff to verify system functionality.

Skills

Operational experience in high voltage & high current pulsed RF systems

Experience with network analyzer

Hands-on electronics hardware experience

Strong verbal and written communication skills in English

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in applicable Engineering discipline

Master’s degree or PhD in applicable Engineering discipline

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Signal generators

Vector network analyzers

Spectrum analyzers

Job description

The expected hiring range for this position is: $88,800.00-$116,900.00. 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 as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

About the Role

Fermilab seeks a highly motivated Electrical Engineer in the Accelerator Division RF Department’s High-Level RF Group to support operations of existing accelerators and the new PIP-II particle accelerator, featuring a new 800 MeV superconducting linear accelerator. The selected candidate will work in an operations and design team environment under the supervision of a scientist or a more senior engineer. The candidate will work with high power RF systems (e.g. 1 to 60 kilowatt solid state amplifiers, 200-kilowatt wide-band tetrode RF amplifiers, 30 kilowatt IOT amplifiers, and 0.3 to 10 megawatt klystron amplifiers with associated support hardware), and assist with current and future RF systems operation and maintenance. The candidate will have the opportunity to work closely with signals and systems directly affecting accelerator performance as well as have opportunities for hands‑on learning of particle accelerator systems.

What your day-to-day as a High-Level RF Engineer at Fermilab will look like

• Design, develop, implement and maintain hardware for current and future high-power RF systems, from low level control circuitry to high power RF amplifiers.
• Participate in the daily operation of RF systems for linacs and synchrotrons including troubleshooting.
• Collaborate with technical staff to verify system functionality and performance.
• Perform engineering analysis, write reports and create presentations.
• Respect, understand, and value individual differences that embody the principles of diversity.
• Abide by all environment, safety, and health regulations.

Essential Competencies and Attributes for Success

• Bachelor’s Degree in an applicable Engineering discipline from an ABET accredited institution with 4+ years of engineering experience, or a master’s degree or PhD in an applicable Engineering discipline from an ABET accredited institution with 2+ years of engineering experience.

Applicable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Operational experience in high voltage & high current pulsed RF systems for linacs and synchrotrons is highly desired (e.g. Klystrons, Tetrodes, IOTs, and Solid State).
• Experience with network analyzer to measure modes, impedance, VSWR and Q of RF resonant cavities desired.
• Design, development, implementation and maintenance of hardware for high power RF systems.
• Knowledgeable in high frequency analog circuits hardware design including interfacing between low level systems and high-power RF equipment.
• Hands‑on electronics hardware experience with oscilloscopes, signal generators, vector network analyzers, and spectrum analyzers is required.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.

Physical Activity and Work Conditions

The position is normally scheduled for a daytime shift, though occasional off‑shift machine studies and/or emergency call‑ins shall be required as knowledge and skills develop. HUMAN FACTORS: Mental Concentration, Sitting, Standing, Tight Work Schedule, Visually Demanding. CHEMICAL FACTORS: Solvents.

Work Arrangement

• Onsite: This is an onsite role, and the candidate must be able to work from our Batavia office.

Benefits/Perks

• 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.

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.