Safety Systems Engineer

Stanford University; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory's Experiment Control Systems division seeks a Laser Safety Systems Engineer to own and maintain Laser Safety Systems across the lab. You will specify, design, implement, document, and steward hardware and software for PLC-based interlocks and related safety instrumentation, collaborating with physicists, engineers, and technicians.

The role emphasizes project management, rigorous work planning, and 24/7 support readiness, with opportunities to influence

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Computer Engineering with 5+ years of experience.
• Experience with PLC-based interlock systems: design, implementation, and support.
• Hardware experience with fault-tolerant, standard PLC and HMI/GUIs.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and troubleshoot systems.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain PLC and wired interlock-based Safety Systems.
• Design, review, plan, and implement upgrades to safety systems.
• Collaborate with SLAC safety systems groups.
• Ensure rigorous work planning, requirements gathering, and version control.
• Stewardship of Laser Safety Systems (LSS).
• Plan upgrades with minimal impact to 24/7 operations.
• Communicate with physicists, engineers, and technicians.
• Lead safety systems reviews and provide 24/7 support as needed.

Skills

Project management

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Documentation

Hardware troubleshooting

Git/version control

End-to-end ownership

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Computer Engineering

Master of Science in Computer Engineering/Science, Physical Science (preferred)

Tools

PLC-based interlock design

HMI & GUI design

Python

Linux

EPICS

Git

Job description

Position Overview
Do you enjoy collaborating with a diverse group of people to solve complex challenges? Does contributing to breakthrough discoveries in science and working with unique experimental instrumentation in a world-leading scientific research environment excite you? The Experiment Control Systems (ECS) division within the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) Directorate at SLAC is seeking a Laser Safety Systems Engineer to exercise responsibility for SLAC and LCLS Laser Safety Systems.
LCLS Laser Engineering Department is responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of Laser Systems throughout the SLAC complex. The candidate will concentrate on the specification, hardware and software design and implementation of all Laser Safety Systems at the Lab. The successful candidate will establish performance criteria, evaluate system architecture, design, validate, document, implement, and exercise stewardship for the Laser Safety Systems. As the safety system engineer, you will perform project management and engineering work of considerable scope and complexity, often challenging and difficult with considerable technical independence as well as collaborate with LCLS and SLAC staff of diverse technical backgrounds to find solutions to the more challenging engineering problems.
You will work with other engineers, engineering associates, and technicians, to support safety systems implementations and best practices, while maintaining and upgrading subsystems assigned. This position reports to the Laser Engineering Department Head..
See https://lcls.slac.stanford.edu/ for more on LCLS and the unique capabilities of our instrument facilities.

Your specific responsibilities include:

• Own and maintain PLC and wired interlock-based Safety Systems. Systems range from relay-based interlock to legacy PLC installations, to modern industry standard PLC implementations.
• Design, review, plan, and implement upgrades to systems owned by the Laser Safety Program to maintain a high level of user availability. The Laser Safety Engineer is responsible for all aspects of system deployment.
• Collaborate with other related SLAC safety systems groups
• Assure rigorous work planning and control are in place including: project planning, requirements gathering, design reviews, soft/firmware version control, test procedures, management reports.
• Stewardship of LSS (Laser Safety Systems).
• Plan and implement upgrades to be the least invasive to 24/7 operations, with consideration of limited resources.
• Communicate with people from all other disciplines: Physicists, scientists, duty operators, electrical and mechanical engineers, electronic and network technicians.
• Hold and participate in safety systems reviews.
• Respond for occasional 24/7 support for system owned by the Laser Engineering Group.

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Computer Engineering and 5 years of experience.
• PLC based interlock system design, implementation, and support
• Hardware Experience using various PLC specific system designs.
• Hardware Experience using fault-tolerant, standard program PLC and HMI & GUI designs.
• Proficiency reading electrical schematics and troubleshooting systems.
• Proactivity in creating and maintaining documentation related to projects, software, user guides, how-tos, among others.
• Lead and direct multiple complex projects requiring high levels of functional integration.
• Experience with version control systems, particularly Git, and collaborative development workflows
• Experience performing end-to-end ownership of tasks, including project management, schedule, and stakeholder management.
• Experience working in cross-disciplinary teams or environments.
• Effective communication (written and verbal).

In addition, preferred requirements include:

• Experience designing, engineering, and implementing safety instrumented systems in alignment with functional safety standards
• Experience with relay logic implementation.
• Experience with Structured Text programming of PLCs
• Python, Linux, and EPICS (Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System) experience
• PLC interface and control software for: Shutters, interlocks, and standalone HMI interface panels
• M.Sc. in Computer Engineering/Science, Physical Science, or a closely related field.

SLAC Employee Competencies:

• Effective Decisions: Uses job knowledge and solid judgment to make quality decisions in a timely manner.
• Self-Development: Pursues a variety of venues and opportunities to continue learning and developing.
• Dependability: Can be counted on to deliver results with a sense of personal responsibility for expected outcomes.
• Initiative: Pursues work and interactions proactively with optimism, positive energy, and motivation to move things forward.
• Adaptability: Flexes as needed when change occurs, maintains an open outlook while adjusting and accommodating changes.
• Communication: Ensures effective information flow to various audiences and creates and delivers clear, appropriate written, spoken, presented messages.
• Relationships: Builds relationships to foster trust, collaboration, and a positive climate to achieve common goals.

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 Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for environment, safety and security; communicates related concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Meets the applicable roles and responsibilities as described in the ESH Manual, Chapter 1—General Policy and Responsibilities: https://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/pdfs/ESHch01.pdf
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu
• As a national laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.