Senior UHV Technician

Stanford Reglab; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory’s SSRL Vacuum Group seeks a technician skilled in mechanical and UHV systems. You will assemble, install, troubleshoot, and maintain advanced vacuum equipment for SSRL accelerators and x-ray beam lines, collaborating with physicists and engineers to enhance performance.

The role requires an associate degree or equivalent experience, strong fabrication and diagnostic skills, and ability to work with minimal supervision.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or 8 years experience in mechanical or vacuum technology or related discipline.
• Vacuum system assembly and maintenance experience.
• Precision mechanical fabrication, QC and assembly practices.

Responsibilities

• Assemble and debug prototype vacuum and precision mechanisms including electron/x-ray optical systems.
• Plan, coordinate and execute complex installations and maintenance.
• Review drawings, material lists, requisitions and change requests.
• Maintain documentation on vacuum system performance and procedures.
• Liaise with researchers, staff and vendors; supervise technicians as needed.

Skills

Vacuum system assembly

Precision mechanical fabrication

Reading engineering drawings

Precision measuring instruments

Welding/Brazing techniques

Team communication

MS Word / Excel

CAD software

Education

Associate degree or 8 years experience in mechanical or vacuum tech

Tools

CAD software

Machine shop tools

Precision measuring equipment

Vacuum pumps

Welding/Brazing procedures

Job description

Do you enjoy collaborating with a diverse group of people to solve complex challenges? Does contributing and/or supporting breakthrough discoveries in science and working with unique experimental instrumentation in a world-leading scientific research environment excite you? As a Directorate of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC) the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) is a DOE-sponsored national and international user research facility dedicated to providing synchrotron x-rays for research in material, biological, chemical, and environmental sciences. Using a 3.0GeV storage ring SSRL produces extremely bright x-rays as a resource for researchers to study matter and processes at the atomic and molecular level. Over 1600 scientist from all over the world utilize our research facility and resources each year.

The SSRL Vacuum Group seeks a technician with a strong background in the fabrication, assembly, installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of mechanical and Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV) precision systems and associated controls for the execution of performance enhancement projects and operations of the SSRL injector/booster accelerator, the SPEAR 3.0 GeV electron storage ring, and x-ray beam lines and associated optics.

In this position, you will plan, coordinate, and execute routine and non-routine fabrication, assembly, installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance activities involving mechanical and UHV systems associated with the SSRL electron accelerators and x-ray beam lines. You will perform preventative maintenance and develop enhancements to scientific instrumentations. You will also support the design, development, testing, and calibration of experimental installations of electron and photon optics and related precision mechanisms. You will work closely with the Vacuum Group manager as well as engineering and scientific staff to carry out field activities and exercise discretion and judgment in the selection of designs, methods, materials, and equipment to accomplish the task. This position is responsible for performing assigned duties with minimal supervision, recognize, understand, and apply safe and authorized work practices to any assignments.

Note: This is a 12 months fixed term position with the possibility of extension or conversion to a regular- continuing position.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Assemble and debug prototype experimental installations, vacuum, and precision mechanisms such as electron and x-ray optical systems, beam transport vacuum systems, and experimental equipment. This responsibility includes setup, commissioning, and debug of associated controls at the system module level.
• Work with designers and engineers to enhance the performance of such prototype systems.
• Modify, repair, and troubleshoot complex equipment and experimental systems as well as associated controls at the system module level.
• Prepare and review drawings, material lists, requisitions, job orders, engineering change requests, and other documents associated with development, fabrication, assembly, installations, and testing.
• Assemble a mechanical system from prints or sketches as well as from conceptual engineering specifications.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute complex equipment installations, set up associated equipment controls, monitor equipment operations, and supervise and execute routine maintenance.
• Support existing and new accelerator and x-ray beam line mechanical and vacuum systems including optics and vacuum transport systems.
• Acquire and maintain tools, equipment, and chemicals associated with experimental or engineering projects.
• Maintain documentation related to vacuum system performance as well as assembly and maintenance protocols.
• Liaise between researchers, students, technical staff, scientists, vendors, and other university staff; serve as a resource, providing training and practical guidance.
• Oversee the work of technicians and other staff associated with the group/projects, and provide guidance to technicians, operators, and others working in particular scientific or engineering function area.
• - Other duties may also be assigned

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• Associate degree or completion of vocational education in mechanical or vacuum technology or related technical discipline, or 8 years of equivalent work experience or combination of education and relevant experience including:
• Vacuum system assembly and maintenance
• Precision mechanical system fabrication, QC, and assembly practices and tooling.
• Experience with machine shop tools and practices including assembly and precision measuring equipment.
• Applying scientific and engineering principles and practices to perform technical services and support.
• Familiarity with welding procedures, brazing procedures, and vacuum cleaning methods.
• Practical and theoretical knowledge and understanding of vacuum science and technology as relate to mechanical and vacuum system operation, design, and fabrication.
• Familiarity with materials, techniques and procedures used in vacuum system construction.
• Demonstrated ability in troubleshooting mechanical instrumentation, vacuum systems, and associated controls, as well as implementing corrective actions where applicable with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to detail accurately and record system performance, system conditions, and individual or team activities.
• Interpret and determine validity of data and check own work.
• Must be able to read and interpret engineering drawings. Must be proficient in the use and application of a vast array of precision measuring instruments, familiar with ANSI Y14.5 symbols.
• Software applications, systems, or programs relevant for the job (e.g., "MS Word", "MS Excel", general familiarity with CAD software).
• Communicate and interface with all levels of staff including scientific, technical and operation areas and serve as a technical liaison with vendors.

Experience in one or more of the following is strongly preferred.

• Familiarity with the use and application of ion gauges, roughing, ion, and turbomolecular pumps, cryopumps, residual gas analyzers, and helium mass spectrometer leak detectors.
• Experience in photon beam line systems and/or charged particle accelerator systems.

Certifications and Licenses:

• Must possess and maintain a valid California non-commercial driver’s license and a good driving record.

SLAC 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.

Core Duties:

• Duties may include design, development of test and calibration methods and procedures, or trouble-shooting systems, components and equipment not only for repair, but also for evaluation of cause and subsequent design improvements.
• Work may also involve higher level maintenance and diagnostic repair when rapid troubleshooting and repair are necessary.
• May function as technical liaison with vendors or assist and lead other workers at the same or lower level of skills. When functioning as a lead technician (in the shop or in the field), the technician assigns and explains tasks to other technicians, inspects work for conformance with specifications, promote the smooth flow of work by the group, and records information on work performed.
• May monitor project schedules (as established by the project engineer), procure parts and material, generate shop orders, and test, evaluate, and interconnect subsystems.
• May be required to work from conceptual engineering specifications rather than detailed drawings, sketches, or instructions.
• They may also be required to write job orders for installations, prepare purchase requisitions, document system details, prepare simple cost estimates or assist the professional staff with cost analysis.
• May perform any of the duties described in the Senior Science & Engineering Technician specification or other duties as assigned.
  

Minimum Education and Experience

Eight years’ experience or demonstrated ability.

Working knowledge of an expanded list of tools and test equipment in applications that are more complex and with greater precision than that required for the Senior S&E Technician.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Principal Scientific and Engineering Technician has all of the qualifications described in the Senior Scientific and Engineering Technician specification plus the following qualifications:

• Ability to make basic engineering calculations on various parameters relevant to component, circuit, instrument, or system design.
• Must possess a thorough grasp of the theory of operation of equipment and instruments used in their assigned group or department.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate in technical terms with engineers and scientists and to instruct and direct the work of others.
• Principal S&E Technicians performing Type A work would be expected to have an in-depth knowledge in some particular area; for example, logic circuit design, the use of Smith charts for microwave measurements, the application of microprocessors, optical system design, or special metallurgical knowledge.
• Principal S&E Technician’s performing Type B work might possess this type of knowledge in less depth but would, in any case, have a basic understanding of various applicable theories.