Controls & AI Systems Engineer

About the Role

The Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) at SLAC National Laboratory is seeking a Project Engineer with experience in controls engineering, data collection frameworks, and software development and deployment. This role focuses on developing and implementing Python-based controls systems software for real-time data handling, enabling autonomous experimentation. You will work with leading research groups on materials science to solve global energy challenges, contributing to the extension and improvement of open-source software tools. Development will be driven by SSRL's scientific focus, particularly in data analysis pipelines and autonomous control for x-ray scattering, diffraction, absorption, and imaging. Objectives include preparing beamlines for machine learning algorithms for autonomous data analysis and experimental steering, potentially leading to scientific publications.

Note: This is a 2-year fixed-term position with the possibility of extension or conversion.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement modern electronics controls software, such as The Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS), for complex instrumentation.
• Deploy the next-generation data collection framework, bluesky, at SSRL beamlines.
• Execute all programming tasks: programming, analyzing, designing, developing, implementing, modifying, and maintaining computer programs for systems of small to moderate complexity or segments of larger systems.
• Survey, assess, modify, and employ existing free software tools.
• Develop, test, deploy, and promote cross-platform software in the public domain.
• Communicate regularly and clearly with co-developers and experimentalists.
• Publish or assist in publishing results of scientific research related to developed software packages.
• Assess stakeholder needs and requirements.
• Design and develop applications involving sophisticated data manipulation.
• Maintain and update existing programs.
• Troubleshoot and solve technical problems.
• Create programs for reporting and analysis needs.
• Design and implement staff training.
• Document software changes for end users.
• Follow team software development methodology.
• Serve as a technical resource for applications.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Python (strong knowledge of at least one programming language)
• The Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS)
• bluesky (data collection framework)
• git and related team development tools
• UNIX and Windows environments
• Experience with controls engineering
• Familiarity with electronics controls systems
• Experience with user experience design and implementation
• Current knowledge of latest software and design standards
• Ability to define and solve logical problems for technical applications
• Knowledge of and ability to select, adapt, and effectively use a variety of programming methods
• Ability to recognize and recommend needed changes in user and/or operations procedures
• Basic knowledge of software engineering principles

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, software engineering, or related field.
• Experience developing and deploying software packages in the public domain.
• Experience developing with scientific data acquisition frameworks (such as Bluesky).
• Experience implementing machine learning methods for data analysis or experimental steering.
• Awareness and enthusiasm for the impact of software tools in the scientific community.
• Reliability, especially in regular communications with colleagues.

Preferred Requirements Include:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field, with hands-on experience in scientific computing or data-driven research; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

SLAC Employee Competencies

• Effective Decisions
• Self-Development
• Dependability
• Initiative
• Adaptability
• Communication
• Relationships