Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility and a leading scientific facility of its type in the world. Located on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in South Oxfordshire, it hosts facilities supporting cutting edge research in all fields of science.

Diamond consists of around 2 kilometres of Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) lines, with complex sections to produce and carry the light safely, as well as many individually designed UHV endstations. Around a third of all the instrumentation at Diamond is vacuum equipment.

We currently have vacancies for one permanent position and one fixed 4 year contract (at either of the levels shown below) to provide Ultra High Vacuum science and instrumentation support to the whole facility. This includes supporting engineering with vacuum calculations and choices of materials for designs of new sections, working with suppliers to provide all the correct equipment, working with controls to provide an integrated control system for the equipment and then commissioning and maintaining the vacuum instrumentation for the synchrotron and beamlines.

Candidates should have a good honours degree (or equivalent or higher qualification) in Physics, Instrumentation or Electronics Engineering or an appropriate branch of another Physical Science or Mathematics with practical experience in Ultra High vacuum and its associated instrumentation.

Key duties are as follows:

Vacuum Instrumentation Engineer/Scientist (DIA1017A/NH):

• Daily monitoring of vacuum instrumentation performance, operations logs, vacuum archive data and fault reports. Identification, analysis, reporting and, where appropriate, solution of vacuum problems arising and implementation of vacuum instrumentation improvements and repairs;
• Collection and analysis of vacuum system performance data to assist with fault finding, for comparison with model simulations and to predict future behaviour;
• Assisting with vacuum system analysis, design, modelling and simulations;
• Effective liaison with vacuum, controls and operations teams to provide a high level of vacuum instrumentation support to the operations team;
• To carry out agreed projects, tests, experiments and procedures to repair, evaluate or optimise new or existing vacuum equipment and to develop vacuum components and designs;
• To procure vacuum equipment for new machine components and beamlines;
• To contribute to the vacuum “on-call” rota;
• To write and review procedures, specifications and manuals and to assist with vacuum training;
• To contribute to the design, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of the vacuum instrumentation systems;
• To keep up to date with new applications and developments in the field of vacuum science and technology;
• To comply with the Diamond companywide and local Health and Safety procedures and policies;

Graduate Vacuum Engineer/Scientist (DIA1017B/NH):

• Assist with the daily monitoring of vacuum instrumentation performance, operations logs, vacuum archive data and fault reports. Identification, analysis, reporting and, where appropriate, solution of vacuum problems arising and implementation of vacuum instrumentation improvements and repairs;
• Provide support with the collection and analysis of vacuum system performance data to assist with fault finding, for comparison with model simulations and to predict future behaviour;
• Help with the maintenance of the RGA systems including upgrades and monitoring of the RGA PC’s;
• Liaise with the IT section to manage the vacuum application laptops and desktop computers;
• Supporting vacuum technicians with the various software applications for the vacuum equipment and the vacuum bakeout systems;
• Effective liaison with vacuum, controls and operations teams to provide vacuum instrumentation support to the operations team;
• To carry out standard outgassing and radiation simulated desorption tests in the vacuum laboratory;
• Assist with writing and reviewing procedures, specifications and manuals and assist with vacuum training;
• To contribute to the design, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of the vacuum instrumentation systems;
• To contribute to the “On-Call” rota;
• To keep up to date with new applications and developments in the field of vacuum engineering;
• To comply with the Diamond companywide and local Health and Safety procedures and policies.

Vacuum Instrumentation Engineer/Scientist / Graduate Vacuum Instrumentation Engineer/Scientist:

• Good honours degree (or equivalent or higher qualification) in Physics, or an appropriate branch of another Physical Science, Mathematics or Engineering;
• Practical experience and ability with vacuum or general physics instrumentation and electronics, interfacing, debugging and fault-finding;
• High degree of computer literacy including MS Office;
• Good problem analysis and problem solving abilities;
• Ability to multitask and desire to learn and carry out reliably and effectively a variety of tasks, both practical and theoretical;
• Ability to work independently, as well as to contribute effectively as part of a larger team;
• Good interpersonal and communication skills with staff at all levels.

Vacuum Instrumentation Engineer/Scientist / Graduate Vacuum Instrumentation Engineer/Scientist:

• Practical experience and ability with commissioning, operation and troubleshooting of ultra-high vacuum systems and their instrumentation.
• Willingness to work occasional operations shifts and to participate in the on-call duties.
• Available for occasional travel in the UK and abroad, including occasional periods away from home.

Vacuum Instrumentation Engineer/Scientist Only:

Good amount of relevant experience following graduation in one or more of the following areas:

• Physics of ultra-high vacuum or accelerator vacuum systems
• Computer programming
• Linux operating system
• Industrial or accelerator control systems
• Instrumentation interfaces

Graduate Vacuum Instrumentation Engineer/Scientist Only:

Some experience in one or more of the following areas (which may have been gained during your degree):

• Physics of ultra-high vacuum or accelerator vacuum systems
• Computer programming
• Linux operating system
• Industrial or accelerator control systems
• Instrumentation interfaces

When applying, please state the level (DIA1017A/NH or DIA1017B/NH) and type of post (Permanent, Fixed Term or both) you wish to apply for.