Scientific Instrumentation & Data Acquisition Engineer

SLAC; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory seeks a Scientific Instrumentation & Data Acquisition Engineer to support the LCLS Data System across firmware, hardware, and software. You will trace issues through the data path from detector firmware to backend software and collaborate with firmware, software, and hardware teams to improve reliability.

The role requires deep expertise in FPGA/firmware, high-speed links, and data acquisition, with a focus on diagnostics, performance, and scalable

Qualifications

• Proven VHDL firmware coding and simulation experience.
• Proficient in Python and C++ programming.
• Experience designing and debugging complex electronics systems.
• Familiarity with high-speed serial and optical links.
• Expertise with AMD/Xilinx-based FPGAs.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and be self-motivated.
• Strong analytical thinking and communication within a team.
• Knowledge of scientific user facility operations.

Responsibilities

• Support deployed systems including firmware, software, and hardware design and debugging.
• Develop system diagnostics to improve stability and performance.
• Suggest and implement feature upgrades in firmware and software.
• Lead integration and testing of detector system components.
• Mentor software developers and engineers.

Skills

VHDL

Python

C++

Electronics design

High-speed links

FPGAs (AMD/Xilinx)

Debugging

System diagnostics

Communication

Independent work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in physics or electronics or computer science

Master’s degree in physics or related fields

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? SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is one of 17 Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories. Operated by Stanford University on behalf of the DOE, SLAC develops and operates some of the world’s premier science facilities, including the first hard X-ray free-electron laser. Researchers from SLAC and other premier institutions around the world use our facilities to investigate some of the most exciting and important problems facing our society in areas such as clean energy, environmental science, biomedicine, and advanced materials. A suite of x-ray instruments for exploiting the unique LCLS-II scientific capabilities are being deployed. All these different instruments adopt a common control and data system.

The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) Experimental Data Systems (EDS) Division is seeking a talented Scientific Instrumentation & Data Acquisition Engineer to contribute to the operational support of software, hardware and firmware systems responsible for movement of data from detector systems to back-end software. This role requires deep technical expertise across the entire data path—from the camera’s internal firmware and FPGA data-handling pipeline through the high-speed fiber-optic protocol, PCIe interface boards, and back-end software. The engineer will understand how detector data is generated, formatted, transmitted, and received, with working knowledge of LCLS’s software and firmware best-practices. They will be responsible for tracing and diagnosing issues anywhere in the chain, from link errors and timing faults to DMA or software mismatches, and for collaborating with firmware, software, and hardware developers to improve overall system reliability and performance.

The successful candidate will be part of a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and software developers focused on supporting scientific instrumentation, data acquisition, data management, and data analysis systems. This engineer will work together with development teams across SLAC, working side by side with our nation's leading scientific minds while also supporting R&D on future approaches and technologies in the area of instrumentation. We pride ourselves on complex system design spanning concept, design, testing, and operation and maintenance of high-speed data acquisition and control systems for research instrumentation.

To be successful in this position, you will bring:

JOB PURPOSE:

Perform programming and analysis work typically involving custom configurations of hardware and software. Contribute to all phases of a project, including systems analysis, program design, development, and implementation. Work on systems and programs typically covering two or more functions, large single functions, or major portions of large functions, interfacing with other complex systems and programs. Provide innovative programming and analysis skills.

CORE DUTIES*:

• Support deployed systems, including firmware, software, and hardware design, identifying and debugging systematic issues affecting operation of the LCLS Data System, a custom data acquisition and analysis pipeline for LCLS instruments.
• Support firmware in FPGAs for both the front end operation of detectors and the back-end operation of data acquisition (DAQ) systems, including embedded processor applications.
• Develop requirements for system level diagnostics to improve the stability of the system and then work with engineers to implement and deploy these diagnostics.
• Suggest and implement feature upgrades in firmware and software.
• Be part of the early concept designs, suggesting additional diagnostics required to support at scale deployment of these complex systems
• Lead and support for detector system integration, including components such as silicon sensors, ASICs, electronics, firmware, readout electronics, and data acquisition.
• Lead and support the integration and testing of components for next generation instrumentation systems for the LCLS facility.
• Participate in the design, development, and deployment of hardware and software systems for acquisition, visualization, and analysis of high throughput data
• Mentor other software developers and engineers.
• * - Other duties may also be assigned

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in physics, electronics, computer science or related fields and at least 4 years of experience in the following areas, or Master’s degree in physics, electronics, computer science, or related fields.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• VHDL firmware coding and simulation experience
• Python/C++ language experience
• Experience designing and debugging electronics systems and seeing modules and systems through from concept to production
• Experience with high-speed serial and optical links
• Demonstrated expertise in AMD/Xilinx based FPGAs
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and be self-motivated.
• Strong analytical thinking and ability to synthesize complex technical and scientific information are a must.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work well in a research and development team.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to select, adapt, and effectively use a variety of programming methods.
• Knowledge of scientific user facility operations.

Certifications and Licenses:

None