Innovative Timing Engineer for XFEL Systems

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory; California (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, CA seeks an Associate Engineer to develop, characterize, integrate, and maintain state-of-the-art timing and synchronization systems for the LCLS experiments.

The role involves collaboration with operations, controls, laser, and experimental teams to ensure femtosecond-level timing stability for XFEL science. You will design, test, install, and support timing infrastructure as part of a world-leading user facility.

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering or related field and 2+ years of experience in RF systems and timing tech.
• Experience with RF system test, verification, integration, and troubleshooting.
• PCB design, layout, manufacturing, and vendor coordination.
• Experience using oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and power supply units.
• Data analysis with Python or MATLAB; automation and prototype evaluation.
• Experience leading technical initiatives and deployments from concept to operation.
• Strong analytical skills to troubleshoot complex systems and drive issue resolution.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain high-stability timing systems, RF electronics, and diagnostics.
• Collaborate with operations, controls, laser, and experimental staff to meet timing requirements.
• Diagnose, modify, repair, and troubleshoot timing systems and diagnostics; identify root causes.
• Support planning, installation, integration, and commissioning of timing hardware and infrastructure.
• Prepare and review engineering drawings, BOMs, procedures, and change records; follow configuration control.
• Contribute to projects that improve capability, maintainability, and operational readiness of timing systems.
• Provide on-call support, maintenance activities, and asset management.

Skills

RF systems

Troubleshooting

PCB design

Oscilloscopes

Python

MATLAB

Data analysis

System deployment

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Vector network analyzers

Phase noise analyzers

Power supply units

Job description

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, CA seeks an Associate Engineer to develop, characterize, integrate, and maintain state-of-the-art timing and synchronization systems for the LCLS experiments.

The role involves collaboration with operations, controls, laser, and experimental teams to ensure femtosecond-level timing stability for XFEL science. You will design, test, install, and support timing infrastructure as part of a world-leading user facility.