Diagnostics Scientist/Engineer

The Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is seeking a Diagnostics Scientist/Engineer to perform a variety of interesting and challenging tasks related to state-of-the-art beam diagnostics, electronic instrumentation, and data acquisition systems for particle accelerators and other scientific applications. Operating at the intersection of beam diagnostics and accelerator physics, this role bridges beam measurement needs with the cutting-edge instruments and techniques required to achieve them across all phases of system life cycles—from conceptualization and design to integration, commissioning, and operational support.

The Advanced Light Source is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national scientific user facility that produces exceptionally bright soft and hard x-ray, ultraviolet, and infrared light. With a strong scientific reputation, expert staff, and advanced capabilities, the ALS attracts thousands of academic and industrial users each year in condensed matter and quantum materials, energy sciences, biosciences, earth and planetary sciences and more.

The ALS is one of five Berkeley Lab user facilities that serve 15,000 users annually. Co-located with the Molecular Foundry, NERSC supercomputing center, and Berkeley Lab's materials, chemical sciences, biosciences, and other divisions, it provides an ideal collaborative environment for innovative scientific discoveries.

The ALS is a global leader in soft x-ray science, and aims to maintain its leadership with ALS-U, a major project to upgrade the facility to a fourth-generation light source. This upgrade will position the facility among the brightest soft x-ray light sources in the world, offering capabilities that no other facility can provide.

We're here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!

Why join Berkeley Lab?

We invest in our employees by offering a total rewards package you can count on:

• Exceptional health and retirement benefits, including pension or 401K-style plans
• Opportunities to grow in your career - check out our Tuition Assistance Program 
• A culture where you’ll belong - we are invested in our teams! 
• In addition to accruing vacation and sick time, we also have a Winter Holiday Shutdown every year.
• Parental bonding leave (for both mothers and fathers)
• Pet insurance 

You will:

• Under minimal supervision for routine work and general direction in new assignments, contribute to the development of state-of-the-art diagnostic, electronic instrumentation, and data acquisition systems for particle accelerators.
• Work on problems of moderate scope where analysis of situations or data requires a review of a variety of factors.
• Exercise judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action.
• Apply accelerator physics and electrical system design principles, practices, standards, and research techniques toward the solution of challenging technical problems in accelerator diagnostics and instrumentation.
• Work collaboratively and communicate effectively with a broad range of engineers, scientists, graduate students and postdocs, technicians, operators, and administrative staff.
• Work directly with Accelerator Physics to set priorities and long term goals to support current and future operational requirements and capabilities.
• Work with Accelerator Controls to integrate and support production diagnostic and instrumentation systems into the ALS Control System.
• Participate in the core activities of the ALS Accelerator Physics Group while serving as a technical bridge to the Accelerator Diagnostics and Instrumentation Group.
• Perform a variety of physics and engineering tasks such as developmental work, characterization measurements and machine studies, specify and develop diagnostic and feedback systems. These tasks may include:
  • Diagnostic system architecture and cabling design and simulation.
  • Sensor/actuator specification, design, and simulation.
  • Software programming to support test & measurement equipment, simulation, data acquisition, and data analysis.
• Plan and carry out complex accelerator measurements using diagnostic instrumentation.
• Develop techniques to measure beam parameters, along with the instrumentation and diagnostic systems that enable those measurements.
• Perform work for various project phases, which may include design, implementation, review, integration, test, commissioning, and operational support.
• Contribute to developing documentation, baseline data, and operating and maintenance procedures.
• Support preparation of new proposals; from the development of technical concepts to the preparation of budgets and schedules.
• Document ongoing and completed work and present it at conferences and workshops. Publish in relevant journals.

We are looking for:

• Masters degree in physics, electrical engineering, software development, computer systems, or equivalent experience.
• At least 4 years of relevant professional experience beyond a Master’s degree.
• Demonstrated ability to independently carry out creative research within an established framework.
• Ability to apply advanced physics, general engineering, and electrical principles, theories, and concepts.
• Ability to learn new principles and concepts and apply them to solve complex diagnostics and instrumentation problems.
• Experience in developing software applications for data acquisition and simulation of diagnostics and/or feedback systems.
• Experience with programming languages and platforms commonly used in particle accelerators and light source storage rings, like python and Matlab.
• Experience in developing and implementing accelerator beam diagnostics and instrumentation systems.
• Demonstrated ability to tackle complex problems through data analysis and thorough evaluation.
• Ability to independently select relevant and appropriate methods and processes to complete tasks.
• Knowledge of project engineering, requirements, specifications and design.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to interact effectively with experts in multiple disciplines, including electronics engineering and technical support, mechanical engineering, accelerator physics, and operations, external partners, and senior ALS management.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.

Desired skills/knowledge:

• PhD degree in physics or electrical engineering.
• At least 4 years of experience in beam diagnostics and instrumentation.
• Understanding of advanced feedback and control theory, including design principles.
• Knowledge of storage ring beam dynamics and accelerator physics.
• Knowledge of accelerator control systems, particularly with a focus on EPICS.
• Demonstrated experience supervising technical support staff.
• Familiarity with analog, RF, and digital FPGA-based electronic designs.
• Experience with Altium PCB Design Software.
• Experience with Keysight ADS, Ansys HFSS system simulation software.
• Experience with Embedded Processor or System-On-Chip FPGA systems.
• Experience with commercial network analyzers, data acquisition systems, frequency synthesizers, oscilloscopes.

Additional information:

• Application date: Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by December 15, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.
• Appointment type: This is a full-time career appointment, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.
• Salary range: The expected salary for this position is $150,696 - $210,972, which fits into the full salary of $113,028 - $271,248 depending upon the candidate’s skills, knowledge, and abilities. This includes education, certifications, and years of experience.
• Background check: This position is 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 modality: Work will be primarily performed at: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites (for more information click here).

Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: The foundation of Berkeley Lab is our Stewardship Values: Team Science, Service, Trust, Innovation, and Respect; and we strive to build community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We heartily welcome applications from all who could contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, excellence, and professionalism. In support of our rich 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, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. For additional information, click here.