Senior Scientist – X-ray Source Control Systems

Carl Zeiss X-ray Microscopy, Inc.; Dublin (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Dental

401k Matching

Employee Assistance Programs

Job summary

Carl Zeiss X-ray Microscopy, Inc. is seeking a Senior Scientist – X-ray Source Control Systems in Dublin, CA. You will lead HV electronics, power supplies, and closed-loop control designs for next-generation X-ray sources.

The role focuses on emission power supplies, control firmware, beam stabilization, and diagnostics to improve reliability, spectral quality, and system integration within advanced X-ray microscopy platforms. English fluency is required.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field with specialization in high voltage electronics, power systems, embedded control, or charged particle devices.
• Demonstrated experience designing or modelling HV power supplies, precision analog circuits, control systems, or radiation source electronics.
• Experience with electron guns, electron-optical lenses, vacuum devices, or Xray generation strongly preferred.
• Hands-on experience with prototype electronics development, test automation, HV diagnostics, and control system characterisation.
• Fluency in English is required, including technical terms.

Responsibilities

• High-Voltage Electronics & Power Systems – Design and optimise HV power supplies (20-200 kV), emission drivers, and beam control systems. Develop stable, low-noise power architectures and robust protection strategies (arc detection, fault tolerance).
• Control Systems & Stabilisation – Build closed-loop control systems for beam current, voltage, and thermal stability. Develop embedded firmware (FPGA/MCU) and integrate sensors for real-time monitoring and performance optimisation.
• Electron Optics Collaboration – Partner with electron-optics experts to ensure HV and control systems support precise beam formation and stable X-ray generation.
• Prototyping & Integration – Lead development and testing of HV electronics, control systems and diagnostics. Work cross-functionally to integrate solutions into complete X-ray systems.
• Leadership & Innovation – Own projects end-to-end, mentor team members, and drive innovation in advanced HV and control technologies.

Skills

HV electronics

Embedded control

Beam stability

Prototype electronics

Education

PhD or Master’s in Electrical Engineering/Physics

Tools

FPGA

MCU

Diagnostics tools

Job description

About Us

How many companies can say they have been in business for over 178 years?! Here at ZEISS, we certainly can! As the pioneers of science, ZEISS handles the ever-changing environments in a fast-paced world, meeting it with cutting edge technologies and continuous advancements. ZEISS believes that innovation and technology are the key to a sustainable future and solutions for global change. We have a diverse range of portfolios throughout the ZEISS family in segments like Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. We are a global company with over 42,000 employees and have over 4,000 in the US and Canada alone! Make a difference, come join the team!

Location

Dublin, CA

What’s the role?

The Senior Scientist – X-ray Source Control Systems leads research, prototyping, and quantitative characterization of next generation X-ray source technologies with a specialized focus on high voltage (HV) electronics, precision power delivery, and closed loop control systems. This role emphasises the design and optimisation of high voltage electron-optical subsystems, power electronics architectures, and real-time control strategies that ensure stable, high-performance X-ray generation. You will define the technical agenda for HV subsystem development--covering emission power supplies, control firmware, beam stabilisation electronics, and advanced diagnostic and protection circuits. Your contributions will directly advance source reliability, stability, spectral quality, lifetime, and integration into next generation X-ray microscopy platforms.

Here’s what you’ll do

• High-Voltage Electronics & Power Systems – Design and optimise HV power supplies (20-200 kV), emission drivers, and beam control systems. Develop stable, low-noise power architectures and robust protection strategies (arc detection, fault tolerance, thermal limits).
• Control Systems & Stabilisation – Build closed-loop control systems for beam current, voltage, and thermal stability. Develop embedded firmware (FPGA/MCU) and integrate sensors for real-time monitoring and performance optimisation.
• Electron Optics Collaboration – Partner with electron-optics experts to ensure HV and control systems support precise beam formation and stable X-ray generation.
• Prototyping & Integration – Lead development and testing of HV electronics, control systems and diagnostics. Work cross-functionally to integrate solutions into complete X-ray systems.
• Leadership & Innovation – Own projects end-to-end, mentor team members, and drive innovation in advanced HV and control technologies.

Do you qualify?

• PhD or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field with specialization in high voltage electronics, power systems, embedded control, or charged particle devices.
• Demonstrated experience designing or modelling HV power supplies, precision analog circuits, control systems, or radiation source electronics.
• Experience with electron guns, electron-optical lenses, vacuum devices, or Xray generation strongly preferred.
• Hands-on experience with prototype electronics development, test automation, HV diagnostics, and control system characterisation.
• Fluency in English is required, including technical terms.
• Ability to work with and understand the work product of team members from all R&D-related departments, as well as Manufacturing and Marketing.
• Exceptional communication skills to resolve technical challenges between mechanical, electrical and software engineering, advanced development, manufacturing and marketing.

The annual pay range for this position is $140,000 - $175,000. The pay offered for this role may be influenced by factors such as job location, scope of role, qualifications, education, experience, and complexity/specialisation/scarcity of talent. This position is also eligible for a performance bonus or sales commissions.

Benefits

• Medical
• Vision
• Dental
• 401k Matching
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Vacation and sick pay
• The list goes on!

Zeiss provides Equal Employment Opportunity without unlawful regard to an Applicants race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, citizen status, sexual orientation, pregnancy (includes childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition), genetic predisposition, carrier status, gender expression or identity, including transgender identity, or any other class or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law of the employee (or the people with whom the employee associates, including relatives and friends).

Step out of your comfort zone, excel and redefine the limits of what is possible. That’s just what our employees are doing every single day – in order to set the pace through our innovations and enable outstanding achievements. After all, behind every successful company are many great fascinating people. In a spacious modern setting full of opportunities for further development, ZEISS employees work in a place where expert knowledge and team spirit reign supreme. All of this is supported by a special ownership structure and the long-term goal of the Carl Zeiss Foundation: to bring science and society into the future together. Join us today. Inspire people tomorrow.

Diversity is a part of ZEISS. We look forward to receiving your application regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, philosophy of life, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity.