Research Scientist

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s (LBNL) Accelerator Technology & Applied Physics (ATAP) Division has an opening for a Research Scientist to join the team within the Berkeley Accelerator Controls & Instrumentation (BACI) Program.

ATAP’s BACI Program focuses on essential systems that offer important opportunities to serve the accelerator community and advance the state of the art. The Program develops ultra-high precision control systems to optimize today’s particle accelerators, along with quantum-computer controls, as well as innovative beam-combining techniques for high peak and average power fiber lasers.

In this exciting role, you will develop software and FPGA gateware for the control and instrumentation of quantum computing and sensing. The Research Scientist will collaborate with ATAP scientists, engineers, postdoctoral scholars, technicians, and students. Documenting and communicating your work in peer-reviewed journals, delivering oral presentations, and participating in meetings, conferences, and reviews.

What You Will Do:

• Work as a team member to develop and optimize the quantum bit control system (QubiC), focusing on the distributed processor gateware and its associated software, including the compiler, scheduler, assembler, and runner etc.
• Conduct FPGA gateware design and verification for qubit control signal processing on different FPGA chips and low-level software driver and API development.
• Participate in the quantum bit control system test and deployment and be responsible for implementation and support of the developed modules in the quantum bit control system.
• Perform qubit characterization and gate optimization with the system under development.
• Collaborate with other members to implement the state-of-the-art quantum control system.
• Document and communicate the results of work in routine reports and oral presentations, including participation in meetings, reviews, conferences and publications in refereed journals.
• Participate in community strategic direction management, including participation as international conference program committee members, technical editors in refereed journals, working group convenors, and equivalent.
• Assist submission of research proposals in response to funding opportunity announcements.

What is Required:

• Normally less than 5 years of relevant experience beyond Ph.D degree in physics, Electronic Engineering, and Computer Engineering, with expertise and a record of publication in superconducting quantum bit control.
• Demonstrated programming experience in Python or Verilog, SystemVerilog.
• Experience in application-specific processor development on FPGA.
• Experience developing software tools at multiple levels of the quantum computing control stack. 
• Demonstrated experimental experience with a superconducting quantum computer.
• Demonstrated proficiency of written and oral presentation of scientific results.
• Demonstrated research and development experience in FPGA gateware design and verification for qubit control signal processing and low-level software driver and API development.
• Ability to work productively independently and collaboratively as part of a diverse team.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and technical support personnel.
• Ability to publish scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and present findings at seminars and conferences.
• Knowledge of digital signal processing, including software-defined radio.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience using RFSoC-based qubit control systems (e.g. QubiC) to control superconducting qubits.
• Expertise in Artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and multi-tasking skills, project and time management.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Notes:

• This is a full time 2-year, term appointment with the possibility of extension or conversion to Career appointment based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs.
• The full salary range of this position is between $7,624.00 to $18,297.00 per month and is expected to pay between a targeted range of $9,927 to $13,897 per month. Salary will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification, skills, knowledge, and abilities, including relevant education, certifications, and years of experience and aligned with internal peer group. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position.
• 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.

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