Senior Software Developer, Experiment Controls

SLAC; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory invites a Software Developer to create and maintain Python and C/C++ applications for experiment control and data acquisition within the ECS Engineering and Design team. You will collaborate with scientists and engineers to translate requirements into reliable software, troubleshoot complex issues, and contribute to software packages on GitHub.

The role emphasizes end-to-end ownership, architectural decisions, and driving improvements across control system

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Physical Sciences, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or closely related field and 8 years of experience or equivalent
• Strong proficiency in Python and Python GUI development (PyQt) including large-scale production codebases
• Experience with C/C++ development and maintenance
• Experience with Git and collaborative development workflows
• End-to-end ownership of tasks including project management, schedule, and stakeholder management
• Experience in cross-disciplinary teams and strong written and verbal communication

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and own high-level Python and C/C++ applications and libraries for experiment operations, control, and data acquisition.
• Collaborate with scientists and engineers to translate requirements into reliable software solutions and set quality standards.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues from GUI to EPICS-based control system interfaces.
• Lead collaboration on public/private software packages on GitHub and mentor junior engineers.
• Define roadmaps and technical direction to improve long-term system reliability and processes

Skills

Python

PyQt

C/C++

Git

Stakeholder mgmt

Cross-functional collaboration

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Physical Sciences/CS/Engineering

Tools

EPICS

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: 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.