Free Electron Laser Physicist - xLight : Job Details

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Vice President of Engineering, xLight Inc.

xLight Inc. is seeking a highly motivated junior FEL physicist to be on the ground floor during the development of a new free-electron laser light source for industry. The successful candidate will be comfortable working in a dynamic, start-up environment and will thrive working in a small group setting in close collaboration with the scientific and engineering teams. Critical aspects of the work will focus on the design, characterization and installation of an FEL and related electron beam optics and diagnostics hardware. Relevant experience with an accelerator facility or a light source facility is advantageous to the successful candidate.

This is a full-time appointment based in Palo Alto, California with remote and hybrid options supported.

About the company

xLight is building the world's most powerful laser to revolutionize semiconductor lithography, metrology, and for other critical economic and national security applications. Our approach harnesses the power of free-electron lasers, building on accelerator technology in use globally at scientific user facilities. Extending this technology, we are developing industrial-grade light sources, engineered for continuous operation, to meet the sophisticated demands of next-generation patterning, metrology, and inspection applications. Join us in this new revolution.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Model FEL beamlines to determine the electron beam physics requirements.
• Perform large-scale particle beam simulations to determine the trade-off and sensitivity of various electron beam characteristics.
• Perform FEL simulations to establish the undulator parameters that meet the overall FEL requirements and work with realizable electron beam properties.
• Work with subject matter experts to design the FEL undulators and establish the required undulator magnetic field specifications.
• Collaborate with engineering team to develop the engineering functionality, establish requirements, and determine interfaces for the FEL beamlines.
• Collaborate with the procurement team and SMEs to procure FEL undulators, magnets, and ancillary beam-based alignment diagnostics and hardware.
• Perform magnetic field quality measurements, data analyses, field retuning, etc. of the FEL undulators as part of the undulator acceptance and characterization tests.
• Perform beam-based alignment as part of the FEL commissioning effort.
• Interface with AI/ML experts to work toward safe and complete system autonomy.
• Document FEL system performance and provide experimental data to validate FEL simulation codes to establish predictive capabilities.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in Physics or equivalent.
• 3+ years of experience with particle accelerators or other large-scale machines.
• Strong understanding of how a high-gain FEL works including both simulations and experimental efforts that are needed to commission such an FEL.
• Extensive experience with particle accelerator simulation codes.

DESIRED SKILLS

• Experience working at a large-scale accelerator or light source facility.
• Experience working with modeling electron beams and FEL performance.
• Experience with FEL undulator magnetic field and field quality characterization
• Experience programming in Python and/or MATLAB.

Equal Opportunity Statement

xLight Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is clear: there shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, or sexual orientation. We are an inclusive organization and actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. We welcome all applications from a wide range of candidates. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit alone.

Seniority level

• Seniority levelAssociate

Employment type

• Employment typeFull-time

Job function

• Job functionEngineering, Science, and Production
• IndustriesDefense and Space Manufacturing, Computers and Electronics Manufacturing, and Semiconductor Manufacturing

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Inferred from the description for this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid maternity leave

Paid paternity leave

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