Accelerator / Floor Operator, Trainee

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s (LBNL) Advanced Light Source (ALS) Division has an opening for an Accelerator / Floor Operator Trainee (AFOT) to join the team. In this hands-on role, you'll gain the technical skills needed to operate and maintain accelerator and beamline equipment, supporting vital scientific research. This is a unique entry-level opportunity for those with a foundational background in engineering or scientific principles who are eager to learn in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.

The Advanced Light Source is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national scientific user facility whose excellent scientific reputation, expert staff, and capabilities in the soft x-ray, hard X-ray, and infrared regimes attract over 1,500 academic and industrial users each year in disciplines spanning physical, chemical, materials, biological, energy, and Earth sciences. It is one of five Berkeley Lab user facilities that serve a combined 11,000 users annually. The co-location of these user facilities – including the Molecular Foundry Nanoscale Science Research Center and the NERSC scientific computing center, as well as Berkeley Lab's outstanding programs in materials and chemical sciences, among others – offers a prime environment for collaborative science. The ALS has been a global leader in soft X-ray science for more than two decades and is currently undergoing a large-scale upgrade (ALS-U) that will endow the facility with state-of-the-art X-ray capabilities. It's an exciting time to join our growing team!

What You Will Do:

Accelerator Operator Duties 

• Safety and Compliance: Follow DOE and Laboratory standards to ensure safe accelerator operations.
• Facility Operations: Conduct facility start-ups and shutdowns, monitor accelerator performance, and make adjustments to optimize performance according to experimental needs.
• Documentation: Log critical data in Accelerator, Controlled Access, Key Cabinet, Radiation Survey, and Beamline Logbooks, documenting all significant facility events.
• Issue Response: Assist in responding to equipment issues by observing and documenting failures, participating in basic troubleshooting, and learning to support processes that prevent repeat issues under the guidance of experienced staff.
• System Adjustments: Adapt systems as needed to meet specific experimental requirements while ensuring safety and functionality.
• Collaboration: Maintain strong communication with coworkers, scientific support staff, and supervisors, actively contributing to a safe and productive environment.
• Learning and Knowledge Growth: Continuously build expertise in ALS accelerator, beamline, and control systems.

Floor Operator Duties 

• Floor Safety Oversight: Ensure safe operations on the experimental floor at all times, assisting Beamline Scientists and Users in safeguarding personnel, equipment, and storage ring protection.
• Beamline Management: Manage beamlines by key-enabling and taking them offline as required, closely following all procedural requirements, especially those involving radiation shielding adjustments.
• Documentation: Make thorough logbook entries of all work conducted on beamlines and end stations, ensuring clarity and accuracy.
• Radiation Monitoring: Support radiation monitoring activities during routine operations, commissioning, and troubleshooting by collecting and reporting data under supervision to ensure safety standards are upheld.
• Vacuum System Monitoring: Assist in monitoring ALS beamline vacuum system components, observing for potential risks and reporting issues for further evaluation.
• Hazard Recognition: Contribute to identifying changes in experimental equipment that may introduce new risks by assisting with equipment reviews and participating in training on safety protocols.
• Equipment and Safety Systems: Assist in using Equipment Protection and Radiation Safety Systems, facilitating efficient and safe use of beam time.
• Technical Support Coordination: Arrange support from ALS and LBNL crafts and trades, including electronic and mechanical repairs, surveys, and facility maintenance.
• Training Coordination: Organize training for experimenters on the safe use of ALS user labs, experimental areas, and staging areas during off hours.

Shared Responsibilities for Both Roles

• Emergency Response: Provide basic support during emergency situations by assisting in mobilizing response efforts and following established safety protocols.

What is Required:

• Educational Foundation: Coursework or experience in engineering, scientific principles, or mathematics that provides a solid understanding of the technical concepts required for accelerator and beamline operations.
• Operational Skills: Ability to monitor and document the performance of accelerator beamline systems and to understand complex operating, mechanical, control, and safety systems involved in facility operations.
• Technical Problem Solving: Skill in identifying and resolving routine hardware issues, with foundational knowledge of physics theory that underlies accelerator and beamline functions.
• Flexibility for Shift Work: Willingness and capability to work rotating shifts as required. This position will transition to primarily owl shift hours (11:45 pm – 8:15 am) after the necessary qualifications are met (typically within 1-2 years). The first year involves primarily day shifts (7:45 am – 4:15 pm), with rotations to swing shifts (3:45 pm – 12:15 am) on alternating weeks.
• Team Collaboration: Proven experience working in diverse, multidisciplinary teams, with strong interpersonal skills to interact effectively with colleagues from varied technical and academic backgrounds.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills for clear, concise documentation of operations and effective teamwork across multiple departments.
• Mechanical Proficiency: Mechanical skills sufficient to perform essential tasks related to the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of beamline equipment.
• Leadership and Team Support: Ability to proactively support team goals and foster a positive work environment by contributing to a cohesive and productive team atmosphere.

Desired Qualifications:

• Familiarity with software like Windows and LabVIEW.
• Basic mechanical skills and familiarity with using hand and machine tools.
• Additional coursework in physics, computer science, or engineering is a plus.

Notes:

• This is a full-time career appointment, non-exempt (hourly paid) from overtime pay.
• This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes.
• The hiring salary/hourly range for this position is $22.91-$33.22.  Salary for this position is based on a step schedule and the final candidate’s qualifications, relevant experience.
• This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• Work will be primarily performed at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA.

Learn About Us:

Berkeley Lab (LBNL) addresses the world’s most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab’s scientific expertise has been recognized with 16 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

The core values of the ALS reflect a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek candidates who will support a culture in which each member of the community feels welcomed and valued. An ongoing commitment to recruiting and retaining a vibrant, diverse, and talented workforce is paramount to promoting a strong and successful lab community. For more information refer to the LBNL core values and the ALS mission statement and core values.

Working at Berkeley Lab has many rewards including a competitive compensation program, excellent health and welfare programs, a retirement program that is second to none, and outstanding development opportunities. To view information about the many rewards that are offered at Berkeley Lab- Click Here.

Berkeley Lab is committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) and strives to continue building community with these shared values and commitments.

Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We heartily welcome applications from women, minorities, veterans, and all who would contribute to the Lab’s mission of leading scientific discovery, inclusion, and professionalism. In support of our diverse global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. 

Equal Opportunity and IDEA Information Links:

Know your rights, click here for the supplement: "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law" and the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision under 41 CFR 60-1.4.