Staff Scientist - SSRL HAXPES Beamline/Program Development

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 207,000; Full time

Job summary

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory's SSRL seeks a Staff Scientist to lead the HAXPES/PEEM beamline development, commissioning, and user program. The role combines scientific leadership with hands-on instrument design and collaboration across SSRL, academia, and industry to advance microelectronics and related fields.

The successful candidate will guide scientific objectives, supervise integration and testing, and nurture an independent research program using HAXPES/PEEM techniques, while

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in physics, applied physics, materials science, or related discipline, with a minimum of 4 years of post-PhD research experience.
• Demonstrated research excellence in materials science.
• Extensive knowledge and hands-on experience with HAXPES and/or PEEM techniques.
• Demonstrated competence in developing, operating, and maintaining complex experimental systems at a synchrotron radiation facility.
• Experience with facility operations and user support.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific leadership for and contribute to the conceptual design, technical development, construction, and commissioning of the HAXPES/PEEM beamline and associated endstation.
• Define and translate scientific requirements into technical specifications for beamline optics, monochromators, electron analyzer, and sample environments optimized for hard X‑ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
• Develop and lead an independent and competitive research program using HAXPES/PEEM.
• Lead and participate in collaborative research projects involving SSRL staff, academic users, industrial partners, and other national laboratories.
• Publish high-impact scientific results and present research at conferences and workshops.

Skills

Scientific leadership

Written & verbal comms

Independent work

Collaboration

Facilities operations

Education

Ph.D. in physics or related

Tools

HAXPES

PEEM

Data analysis

Scripting

Scientific programming

Job description

Job Description

Position Overview

The Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL), a Directorate of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, is developing a state-of-the-art Hard X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy / Photoemission Electron Microscopy (HAXPES/PEEM) beamline with a strong focus on probing electronic and chemical states in buried layers of functional devices, particularly for microelectronics applications. We seek an outstanding Staff Scientist to play a leading scientific and technical role in the design, construction, commissioning of this new beamline, and - once in operation - in scientific program development and user support.

The successful candidate will join the Materials Science Division and become an integral member of a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment that combines staff-led scientific programs with close engagement and collaboration with the SSRL user community. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape a flagship SSRL beamline while advancing impactful research in microelectronics, semiconductor materials, quantum information science, and related fields.

Your specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Beamline and Endstation Development

• Provide scientific leadership for and contribute to the conceptual design, technical development, construction, and commissioning of the HAXPES/PEEM beamline and associated endstation. Promote and represent the scientific objectives of the beamline to internal and external stakeholders.

• Define and translate scientific requirements into technical specifications for beamline optics, monochromators, electron analyzer, and sample environments optimized for hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

• Work closely with the project manager, engineers, technical staff, and scientists to develop robust, high-performance instrumentation.

• Oversee system integration, testing, commissioning, and performance optimization.

Scientific Research and Leadership

• Develop and lead an independent and competitive research program using HAXPES/PEEM, aligned with the mission of the SSRL Materials Science Division.

• Conduct frontier research in areas such as microelectronics, semiconductor devices, thin films, heterostructures, and buried interfaces.

• Lead and participate in collaborative research projects involving SSRL staff, academic users, industrial partners, and other national laboratories.

• Publish high-impact scientific results and present research at conferences and workshops.

User Program Development and Collaboration

• Play a central role in establishing and growing the HAXPES/PEEM user program at SSRL.

• Engage with the user community to identify emerging scientific opportunities and guide the evolution of beamline capabilities.

• Support users throughout the experimental lifecycle, including experimental design, beamtime execution, and data analysis.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive user training and outreach activities, including workshops, tutorials, and documentation.

Operations, Service, and Division Engagement

• Manage routine beamline operations, endstation maintenance, and continuous performance improvement.

• Ensure safe operation of the beamline in accordance with SLAC and DOE requirements.

• Contribute to division-wide scientific initiatives, mentoring, outreach, and strategic planning.

Note

Appointment at the Staff Scientist level is a regular-continuing position and requires a review and evaluation of documented scientific achievements, with approval by the Directorate Appointment and Promotion Committee.

SLAC is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) laboratory operated by Stanford University and based in Menlo Park, CA.

To be successful in this position, you will bring:

• Ph.D. in physics, applied physics, materials science, or related discipline, with a minimum of 4 years of post-PhD research experience.

• Demonstrated research excellence in materials science, supported by publications and experimental achievements.

• Extensive knowledge and hands‑on experience with HAXPES and/or PEEM techniques.

• Demonstrated competence in developing, operating, and maintaining complex experimental systems at a synchrotron radiation facility.

• Experience with facility operations and user support.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

In addition, preferred qualifications include:

• Research experience in microelectronics or closely related fields.

• Technical expertise in synchrotron beamline or endstation development, including operando or in situ sample environments.

• Proficiency in data analysis, scripting, and scientific programming tools.

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 his or her job.

• Given the nature of this position, on‑site work is required.

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: http://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.

• Classification Title: Staff Scientist

• Duration: continuing

• Job Code: 1093 Grade: L

The expected pay range for this position is $175,461 - $207,470 per annum.

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory/Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is an Affir'mative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer and supports diversity in the workplace. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital or family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information. All staff at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory must be able to demonstrate the legal right to work in the United States. SLAC is an E-Verify employer.