Working on distributed-control systems your task as Software Systems Engineer or Graduate Software Systems Engineer will be to work closely with a team of scientists and engineers to specify and develop software to deliver ultra-stable x-ray beams to the experimental sample; to provide control of the experiment and manage the readout of the detectors.  You will be working in a distributed, heterogeneous computing environment, using the real-time operating system for direct control of the x-ray optical components and Linux workstations for the operator interfaces and development environment. Most server applications are coded in C or built using the EPICS control system toolkit, while client applications use a combination of Java and Python or tools.

You will need to demonstrate an excellent understanding of computing technology applied to real-time and distributed control applications and excellent programming skills. Together with a good honours degree in physics, electronic engineering or computer science. For the right candidate the position offers a relaxed non-commercial environment full of motivated individuals and comprehensive benefits.

As a Graduate Software Systems Engineer, this role provides a 2 year personalised development programme, with extensive hands on experience backed by technical training and development.  

Duties:

Graduate Software Systems Engineer

• Work with scientists and engineers on the overall design and specification for the control systems;
• Work as part of a small team to design, implement, test and document control software for the photon beamlines;
• Provide support for the commissioning of photon beamline control systems;
• Provide operational support and maintenance of software for existing systems, including attention and response to fault reports when appropriate;
• Personal training and development.

Software Systems Engineer

• Design and develop the Control Systems;
• Commission and diagnose faults in installed Control Systems;
• Provide operational support and analysis of installed Control Systems;
• Interface with internal customers, including Engineers and Scientists, at all stages of the development life cycle to, for example, develop requirements, track project progress, and verify operation of Control Systems;
• Contribute to the processes and associated software development to support the design of Control Systems throughout Diamond;
• Report on progress in all areas on a periodic basis;
• Support of contractors and suppliers of turn key Control Systems;
• Maintain and develop technical expertise in software development;
• Maintain a current knowledge of the Control Systems on other, comparable, beamline and accelerator projects. 

Graduate Software Systems Engineer

• Honours degree in Physics, Electronic Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent other degree + relevant experience;
• Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively, both orally and written;
• Ability to solve technical problems, evaluating alternative courses of action and innovating where necessary;
• Demonstrate self-motivation and a willingness to take responsibility;
• Demonstrate ability to work as part of a team;
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively alone and without direct supervision;
• Understanding of software design and/or programming of industrial or scientific systems; 
• Knowledge and experience in programming in C or an Object Orientated language;
• Understanding of software in a real time distributed environment;
• Knowledge and experience of developing in a Unix environment.

Software Systems Engineer

• Honours degree in Physics, Electronic Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent other degree + relevant experience;
• Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively, both orally and written;
• Ability to solve technical problems, evaluating alternative courses of action and innovating where necessary;
• Demonstrate self-motivation and a willingness to take responsibility;
• Demonstrate ability to work as part of a team;
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively alone and without direct supervision;
• Relevant experience in the software design and/or programming of industrial or scientific systems;
• Knowledge and experience in programming in C;
• Experience in developing software in a real time distributed control environment;
• Knowledge and experience of developing in a Unix environment;
• Knowledge and experience of developing with a source code control and structured release environment;
• Experience of using software testing and debugging tools effectively and developing automated test harnesses.

Graduate Software Systems Engineer

• Knowledge and experience of developing with a source code control and structured release environment;
• Knowledge and experience of embedded systems;
• Knowledge and experience of Linux on PC’s;
• Knowledge of networking protocols.

Software Systems Engineer

• Demonstrate an understanding of staff supervision;
• Demonstrate an understanding of project planning and management;
• Knowledge and experience of working with motion systems;
• Knowledge and experience of embedded systems;
• Knowledge and experience of Linux on PC’s;
• Knowledge and experience with Scripting Languages;
• Knowledge of Motion control;
• Knowledge of networking;
• Knowledge and experience in programming in Java.

The ideal applicant should be:

• Willing to work overtime at unsociable hours as required;
• Willing to travel in the UK and abroad, including occasional periods away from home;
• Prepared to undertake further training.