Pulsed Power Electrical Engineer Laser and Experimental Systems

We have multiple openings for experienced Pulsed Power Engineers to support the National Ignition Facility and Photon Science (NIF&PS) / Light Matter and Fusion (LMF) portfolio of projects including NIF operations and sustainment the NIF Enhanced Yield Capability (EYC) Project high energy density science and national security applications. NIFs laser uses the largest capacitor bank in the world over 300 MJ to power the worlds highest energy pulsed laser system. EYC will upgrade NIF toward 2.6 MJ of optical energy by adding new pulsed power systems flash lamps and laser amplifier capability while sustaining the reliable operation of existing NIF pulsed power hardware.

This is a hands-on engineering role for someone who wants to design qualify field and improve high-energy pulsed power hardware in a one-of-a-kind facility. You will develop pulsed power and power electronics upgrades qualify prototype and replacement components for use on NIF support fabrication and installation of new EYC power conditioning hardware and use operational data to improve reliability maintainability and shot readiness. You will also provide engineering expertise to operations and maintenance staff supporting a 24/7 mission facility where good design must survive real schedules real safety requirements and real equipment aging. These positions are in the Laser Systems Engineering and Operations (LSEO) Division within the Engineering Directorate.

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

These positions will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

In this role you will

• Work under limited direction use comprehensive knowledge and exercise independent judgment to determine methods and recommend improvements within established frameworks while contributing to the fulfillment of project and organizational goals.
• Develop pulsed power and power electronics hardware for NIF laser systems including upgrades and prototype components needed for EYC and for replacement of obsolete hardware.
• Provide engineering and upgrade solutions to ensure the safe reliable operation maintenance and sustained performance of the 2 MJ pulsed power bank supporting the flashlamp testing facility.
• Support the fabrication testing installation and qualification of new NIF Power Conditioning Modules for EYC by working with integrators designers technicians and vendors to verify that hardware is built to plans drawings and specifications.
• Define and execute test plans acceptance criteria and qualification approaches for high-energy and high-voltage pulsed power components before deployment on NIF.
• Develop test plans and support qualifications of the redesigned Power Conditioning embedded controller being developed internally by the NIF controls team.
• Develop electrical and optical diagnostics for pulsed power loads such as flashlamps to characterize performance degradation and failure modes.
• Support redesign qualification inspection and vendor qualification activities for high-energy NIF flashlamps and related components including work associated with glass-to-metal seals and quartz tube suppliers.
• Support and troubleshoot NIF pulsed power systems including flashlamp power supplies PEPC systems pulsed power controls trigger systems interlocks diagnostics and associated test equipment.
• Analyze and model/simulate the electrical performance of system components under dynamic electrical loads and/or harsh electromagnetic interference conditions.
• Develop maintain and present system reliability and performance metrics; use those metrics to inform design improvements sustainment plans and investment decisions.
• Document technical designs test plans acceptance criteria qualification results maintenance guidance hazard analyses and formal reports.
• Participate in design reviews safety reviews readiness reviews and technical peer reviews; present technical results and recommendations clearly to engineering operations and program stakeholders.
• Support NIFs operational mission through planned engineering work maintenance windows recovery activities and occasional off-shift or on-call response for critical shot campaigns.
• Uphold and adhere to the highest standards of personnel safety facility safety configuration management conduct of operations security and quality while working around high-energy electrical systems.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities at the SES.3 level

• Function independently with minimal direction with greater responsibility and applying advanced knowledge and judgment to establish objectives prioritize parallel tasks allocate resources and guide the completion of projects that contribute to organizational goals.
• Serve as a primary technical contact for assigned pulsed power systems EYC upgrade hardware qualification activities or NIF sustainment tasks.
• Lead and participate in multi-disciplinary design reviews qualification reviews failure reviews and technical investigations to ensure that hardware experiments/tests and data acquisition systems are safe and technically sound.
• Guide qualification strategy for prototype or first-of-kind pulsed power hardware new Power Conditioning Module hardware embedded controller upgrades flashlamp-related components or obsolete-component replacements.
• Provide technical direction to engineers technicians designers vendors integrators and external contractors fabricating testing or modifying custom electrical equipment.
• Develop and lead training or inspection approaches for specialized pulsed power hardware such as flashlamp inspection criteria or qualification methods for critical components.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the development and implementation of best practices for high-voltage design pulsed power testing qualification documentation troubleshooting and configuration control.

Qualifications :

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelors degree in electrical engineering or related technical field or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of and practical experience with high-voltage/pulsed power systems power electronics controls diagnostics or closely related hardware systems.
• Comprehensive knowledge in one or more of the following areas: pulsed power power modulation/switching capacitor energy storage grounding shielding in harsh EMI environments diagnostics instrumentation systems trigger systems controls or high-speed/high-power electronics.
• Experience designing building testing qualifying troubleshooting or operating electrical hardware beyond academic laboratory work such as pulsed power systems power converters capacitor discharge systems RF/microwave power systems laser electronics accelerator hardware industrial controls or high-reliability test equipment.
• Experience developing and executing test plans acceptance criteria qualification tests or failure investigations for high-voltage high-energy or mission-critical electrical hardware.
• Experience using engineering analysis and test data to solve moderately complex to complex hardware problems involving multiple factors such as circuit behavior component limits thermal performance EMI/RFI grounding shielding timing controls diagnostics or human/system interfaces.
• Comprehensive knowledge and skills performing moderately complex computational modeling simulation analysis or data reduction using tools such as SPICE MATLAB Python COMSOL or similar.
• Experience with laboratory instrumentation and safe test practices for energized electrical systems including oscilloscopes probes meters current monitors spectrum analyzers power supplies loads signal sources optical diagnostics or data acquisition systems.
• Experience working effectively in a multidisciplinary environment managing multiple tasks projects and priorities while balancing technical performance safety requirements schedule reliability and facility availability.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment including the ability to prepare technical reports deliver presentations and explain technical information and recommendations.

Additional qualifications at the SES.3 level

• Advanced knowledge in one or more relevant areas such as pulsed power high-voltage power conversion capacitor energy storage diagnostics trigger systems controls grounding and shielding EMI/RFI flashlamp systems or high-speed/high-power electronics.
• Significant experience designing building testing qualifying troubleshooting or operating complex high-voltage pulsed power power electronics RF/microwave laser accelerator or industrial electrical systems.
• Ability to lead independent technical work guide the completion of complex projects and provide solutions that require in-depth analysis of tangible and intangible factors.
• Experience serving as a technical contact leading or contributing to design reviews qualification reviews or failure investigations and providing guidance to engineers technicians vendors integrators or multidisciplinary teams.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills necessary to collaborate across organizations present and explain complex technical information and provide advice to management.

Qualifications We Desire

• Masters degree in electrical engineering applied physics or a related field or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Experience qualifying prototype or first-of-kind high-voltage/pulsed power hardware intended to replace obsolete components including developing test plans and acceptance criteria for qualification on an operating facility such as NIF.
• Familiarity with electrical and optical diagnostic techniques used to characterize high-energy pulsed power loads such as flashlamps.
• Understanding plasma physics fundamentals particularly as they relate to flashlamp discharge behavior gas breakdown and light emission mechanisms.
• Experience working with fabrication partners integrators or component vendors to define technical specifications verify build compliance and support qualification of new hardware.
• Experience with preventive and corrective maintenance equipment reliability failure modes and effects analysis trend analysis spare parts strategy life-cycle sustainment or reliability-centered maintenance.
• Experience creating or improving test procedures maintenance procedures operating instructions configuration-controlled drawings hazard analyses or technical training materials.
• Experience with low-inductance layout PCB design cabling grounding shielding fault protection controls integration LabVIEW PLCs embedded controllers or custom data acquisition systems.

Pay Range

$146340 - $222564 Annually
$146340 - $185544 Annually for SES.2 Level
$175530 - $222564 Annually for SES.3 Level

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. Pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage.  An employees position within the salary range will be based on several factors including but not limited to specific competencies relevant education qualifications certifications experience skills seniority geographic location performance and business or organizational needs.

Additional Information :

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position open to Lab employees and external candidates.

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• Relocation Assistance
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  Remote Work :

  No

  
  

  Employment Type :

  Full-time