Job Title Head of Power Supplies Group or Senior Power Supplies Engineer
Job Reference DIA0871/NH or DIA0873/NH
Post Type
Division Technical
Salary information 45-57k / 37-47k
Application deadline Open Vacancy


Job Description

Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility. Located at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire, we enable world-leading research across a wide range of scientific disciplines and industrial applications.

Diamond’s accelerators contain well over 1000 magnet power supplies of various types including DC, cycling and pulsed systems. High stability, reproducibility and reliability are essential for these systems which are critical to the operation of the facility. Diamond is now seeking either a Head of Power Supplies Group (post DIA0871/NH) or Senior Power Supply Engineer (post DIA0873/NH) to play a key role is managing these power supplies.

As Head of the Power Supply Group you will be responsible for the operation and any future development of Diamond’s magnet power supplies, reporting to the Technical Director. The duties of the post include the following:

  • Responsible for the operation of Diamond’s magnet power supplies;
  • Manage the fault analysis and improvement programmes to achieve continuous improvement in operational reliability, taking into account component ageing and obsolescence issues;
  • Responsible for any future new power supplies, or power supply developments, including cabling and termination details;
  • Responsible for safety aspects related to the operation of the power supply systems, the cabling and magnet loads, including preparing any necessary safety documentation (Risk Assessments, Method Statements etc.);
  • Provide training, documentation and support to the Operation Team in the use of the power supplies;
  • Organise and participate in out of hours support for the operation of the power supplies;
  • Contribute to the review and updating of Diamond’s electrical safety procedures;
  • Liaise with power supply groups in other synchrotron facilities to establish best practise;
  • Manage a Power Supplies group and its laboratory to support the above activities;
  • Manage the associated budgets and planning aspects;
  • Comply with, and where appropriate contribute to the development of, Diamond Health and Safety procedures and policies;

As Senior Power Supply Engineer you will play a key role in the operation and any future development of Diamond’s magnet power supplies. The duties of the post include the following:

  • Provide a high level of technical knowledge and practical experience of high stability power supply technology, covering DC, AC and pulsed systems and their control interfaces;
  • Support the operation of the power supplies, including being part of the 24 hour on-call team, and carrying out power supply troubleshooting and repair where necessary; Investigate beam trips attributable to the power supplies and strive to minimise the number of trips and repair time;
  • Manage regular monitoring, testing and preventative maintenance of the power supplies, in order to minimise down time, and ensure stable, reproducible operation;
  • Manage the development of test and maintenance procedures and ensuring adequate spares levels are maintained for the power supplies;
  • Manage safety aspects of work related to the operation of the magnet power supplies, the cabling and magnet loads, including the preparation of safety documentation, such as Risk Assessment, Method Statements and procedures;
  • Maintain up to date documentation;
  • Lead the development of new power modules and electronic circuits as part of the continuous improvement programme for the power supplies;
  • Lead the design and manage production of any new power supplies required for the accelerators or beamlines;
  • Manage new power supply projects, including interfacing with internal customers, engineers and scientists, to develop requirements, propose solutions, manage expenditure and track project progress;
  • Provide advice on EMC issues within the Power Supply Group and to other groups, arrange EMC testing of power supplies and other equipment as appropriate;
  • Maintain and develop technical expertise in power supply technology and control;

Qualification & Experience - Essential

  • Appropriate electrical engineering/physics degree or equivalent qualification;
  • Significant technical knowledge of power supply and component technologies, digital and analogue circuits, regulation, control loops and EMC issues;
  • Significant practical experience of the design, construction and operation of highly stable and reliable power supplies of various types: DC, cycling and pulsed, including testing, fault finding and problem solving;
  • Experience of contract and project management;
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills, with an ability to interact effectively with staff at all levels;
  • Self motivated and ability to motivate others;
  • Willingness to work outside normal working hours, including occasional evenings, nights and week-ends as operational needs dictate;
  • Willingness to participate in out of hours support for the operation of the power supplies;
  • Willingness to undertake occasional travel within the UK and overseas, to visit laboratories and companies, attend meetings and conferences etc.;

Additional Essential Criteria for Head of Power Supply Group only:

  • Experience of team management and leadership;

Qualification & Experience - Desirable

  • Knowledge of digital control interfaces;
  • Knowledge of future trends in power supply design;

Additional Desirable Criteria for Senior Power Supply Group Engineer only:

  • Experience of line management;

Additional Desirable Criteria for Head of Power Supplies Group only:

  • Appreciation of the impact of power supply operation on particle accelerators;

Further Information

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Professor Richard Walker on 01235 778484.

Applying for employment

For further details on applying for employment at Diamond, please visit our 'Application Form' page.

Appointments will be made depending on the skills and experience of the candidate. Electronic Diamond application forms in MS-Word are preferred. These should be emailed to recruitment@diamond.ac.uk



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