Photon beamlines are required to deliver ultra stable x-ray beams from the Diamond storage ring to the experimental samples.  They require extensive control of x-ray optical components and other instrumentation to control the photon beam profile and position.

Control systems for the photon beamlines are realised as a distributed, heterogeneous computing environment, using embedded systems for direct control of the x-ray optical components and other instrumentation, together with Linux workstations for the operator interfaces. Most of the embedded applications are coded in C or built using the EPICS control system toolkit, and the Linux applications use a combination of C, Java and scripting languages.

As a Graduate Software Systems Engineer working on the photon beamlines your task will be to work closely with a team of scientists and engineers to specify and develop software to deliver ultra stable x-ray beams from the Diamond storage ring to the experimental sample. 

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with scientists and engineers on the overall design and specification for the beamline 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.
 

• Honours degree in physics, electronic engineering, computer science or equivalent other degree, BTEC HNC/HND plus relevant experience.
• Understanding of software design and/or programming of industrial or scientific systems. 
• Knowledge and experience in programming in C or an Object Orientated language 
• 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
• Be willing to work overtime at unsociable hours as required.
• Be willing to travel in the UK and abroad, including occasional periods away from home. • Be prepared to undertake further training.
 

• Understanding of software in a real time distributed environment.
• Knowledge and experience of developing in a Unix environment
• 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