Senior Software Developer, Experiment Controls

6AM City, LLC; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SLAC's Experiment Control Systems division seeks a Software Developer to build Python and C/C++ applications and automation scripts that control complex experiments.

You will collaborate with scientists and engineers, maintain production-grade code, and contribute to EPICS-based control systems and data acquisition across multiple projects in a world-leading research environment.

The role emphasizes code quality, testing, and mentoring junior engineers on best practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Physical Sciences, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field, plus 8 years of experience or equivalent combination.
• Strong proficiency in Python and PyQt, including designing and maintaining large-scale production-grade codebases.
• Experience with C/C++ code development and maintenance.
• Experience with Git and collaborative development workflows.
• End-to-end ownership of tasks, project management, scheduling, and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and own Python and C/C++ applications and libraries essential for experiment operations, instrument control, and data acquisition.
• Collaborate with scientists and engineers to translate requirements into reliable software solutions and set design standards.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues from UI to EPICS-based control system infrastructure.
• Architect and mentor in collaboration with teammates and international groups on public/private software packages (GitHub).
• Develop and refine engineering processes, define roadmaps, and influence priorities for long-term system reliability.

Skills

Python

PyQt

C/C++

Git

Linux

EPICS

Communication

Project Mgmt

Education

Bachelor's degree in Physical Sciences/CS/Engineering

Tools

Git

EPICS

PyQt

Linux

Job description

Job Description

Position Overview

Are you a software engineer motivated by building applications that power scientific discovery? 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 Software Developer to join the Engineering and Design controls team. The Software Developer will primarily develop and maintain Python and C/C++ based applications and automation scripts that serve as an important interface for controlling complex experiments to advance scientific research.

LCLS is the world's first hard x-ray free electron laser (XFEL) with unprecedented capabilities in photon energy range, peak power, and pulse lengths. There are 8 independent instruments currently in operation, which are specifically designed to utilize the exceptional beam characteristics of the LCLS to probe the structure and dynamics of matter at atomic size and timescales.

As a member of the ECS Engineering and Design department, the Software Developer will join a multidisciplinary engineering group which develops and supports technology for controlling and operating scientific instrumentation at LCLS. This suite of instrumentation characterizes and delivers the XFEL beam to experiments and establishes the conditions for data collection. You will also help develop and deliver Python, C, and EPICS software for LCLS projects at varying scales.

See https://lcls.slac.stanford.edu/ for more on LCLS and the unique capabilities of our instrument facilities.

Your specific responsibilities include

• Develop, maintain, and own high-level Python and C/C++ applications and libraries that are essential for experiment operations, instrument control, and data acquisition.
• Collaborate with scientists and engineers to gather experimental requirements and translate the requirements into well-designed, reliable, and maintainable software solutions, driving architectural decisions and setting standards for software quality across the team.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues in the software application stack, from the user graphical interfaces down to the communication with our control system infrastructure primarily consisting of EPICS (Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System)
• Architect, lead and contribute to collaboration with other team members and international groups on public and private software packages on GitHub, including the review of peer-submitted code and mentoring junior engineers on best practices and design patterns.
• Develop and refine engineering processes and tools contributing to strategic improvements and long-term system reliability, including defining roadmaps, setting technical direction, and influencing organizational priorities.

To be successful in this position you will bring

• Bachelor's degree in Physical Sciences, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field, and eight years of relevant experience or a combination of education and relevant experience.
• Strong proficiency in Python and Python GUI development (PyQt), including designing and maintaining large-scale, production-grade codebases
• Experience working with C/C++ code development and maintenance
• 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 with a track record of delivering complex, multi-stakeholder projects on time.
• Experience working in and leading efforts across cross-disciplinary teams or environments.
• Effective communication (written and verbal), present design options, tradeoffs comparison, implementation details, etc. to a wide range of stakeholders towards building effective and scalable systems.

In addition, preferred requirements include

• Experience with EPICS (Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System) development
• Familiarity with EPICS Channel Access (CA) and/or PV Access (PVA) protocols
• Experience working in a scientific, research, or academic environment
• Extensive experience working in Linux environments, preferably RHEL or Rocky Linux
• Good understanding of network architecture and operational technology systems
• Familiarity with control systems concepts and infrastructure
• Experience leveraging AI models and tools to accelerate development and build AI applications that improve operational effectiveness, including integrating AI-assisted workflows into team practices
• 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: Pursu