LCLS Experimental Systems Engineering Department Head

Job ID

6179

Location

SLAC - Menlo Park, CA

Full-Time

Regular

SLAC Job Postings

Position Overview

The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) Engineering Division at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is seeking a dynamic and experienced mechanical engineer to lead the Experimental Systems Engineering Department. This critical leadership role involves managing a multidisciplinary team of engineers who develop, integrate, and maintain the cutting-edge systems supporting LCLS's mission of advancing scientific discovery.

LCLS, a premier X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) facility operated by Stanford University for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, enables groundbreaking research across diverse fields such as clean energy, pharmaceuticals, and astrophysics. The facility includes seven specialized instruments optimized for unique scientific applications, and its ongoing evolution¿including upgrades to experimental instruments and the introduction of a petawatt-class laser for extreme conditions research¿presents exciting engineering challenges.

As the head of the Experimental Systems Engineering Department, in addition to engineering responsibilities, you will manage a team of engineers, provide supervision, guidance and training, foster staff development, promote engineering rigor, and participate in hiring activities to support the LCLS mission.

This position administratively reports to the LCLS Engineering Division Leader within the LCLS Directorate.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Define and execute the vision for the department, ensuring alignment with LCLS¿s strategic goals and mission.

• Engineering Excellence: Oversee the design, integration, commissioning, and operational transition of complex experimental systems, ensuring high performance and reliability.

• Team Management: Supervise and mentor a team of engineers, fostering growth and ensuring adherence to engineering rigor and quality standards.

• Project Oversight: Lead department contributions to large-scale projects, ensuring milestones are met and deliverables align with LCLS objectives.

• Collaboration: Build and maintain productive relationships across LCLS, SLAC, and external stakeholders to advance engineering initiatives.

• Continuous Improvement: Promote engineering rigor through adherence to the LCLS Conduct of Engineering standards and develop process improvements for quality control and documentation.

• Resource Management: Oversee departmental budgets, schedules, and priorities while maintaining workload balance and progress on assigned projects.

Specific responsibilities include the following:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction of complex scientific, engineering, or technical research organization(s) or program(s) with responsibility for overall success. Achieve mission and goals through the management of staff and/or managerial staff engaged in developing, advancing and applying science, engineering and technology.

• Provide strategy and vision; make decisions that establish objectives for the overall direction or operation of a significant project(s) or area(s).

• Manage staff of a large science, engineering, and/or technical research area, which includes recruiting, hiring, developing, evaluating and setting priorities; manage business, technical, and educational activities for direct reports including managers and technical experts.

• Identify, clarify, and resolve issues with strategic impact and substantial significance, which span multiple areas, using advanced technical and professional knowledge requiring broad discretion and judgment.

• Collaborate with others on the direction of activities relevant to long-term objectives. Develop strategies to ensure effective achievement of objectives.

• Develop policies and procedures as they relate to academic or program activities.

• Implement, evaluate and maintain quality control standards to ensure program success.

• Establish, oversee and manage financials and schedule for large programs and/or multiple projects.

• Recommend the adoption of emerging technologies and the development of new methods and approaches.

• Negotiate with internal departments and external agencies with authority to commit resources and effort.

• Serve as a liaison to senior management, cross-functional areas, schools and external organizations such as sponsors and government agencies.

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• Bachelor¿s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field and eight years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience in industry or national laboratories. Advanced degree may be required

• Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills with experience in managing technical teams.

• Expertise in engineering tools such as CAD (e.g., Creo, Solid Edge), PLM systems (e.g., Windchill, Teamcenter) and FEA packages (e.g. ANSYS).

• Proven ability to design and integrate precision mechanisms and components, particularly in vacuum environments.

• Experience in managing complex engineering projects, including scheduling, budgeting, and resource planning.

• Exceptional communication skills to engage with diverse audiences, including senior management and external sponsors.

• Planned and directed all aspects of mechanical and computer aided design (CAD) engineering activities in the design, analysis, qualification, system integration and delivery of scientific instrumentation.

• Understanding of ANSI/ASME Y14.5M drawing standards, GD&T and BOM structure.

• Experience development systems engineering related processes, workflows and procedures.

• Experience leading, managing, motivating and developing technical staff.

• Experience leading complex scientific, engineering or technical research projects or programs.

• Detailed understanding of relevant business and technical knowledge and problem resolution.

• Ability to synthesize and articulate technical and scientific methodologies, specifications, and information.

• Ability to resolve complex issues quickly and make decisions that meet university objectives in a collaborative culture.

• Ability to influence and establish effective working relationships in a diverse environment.

In addition, preferred requirements include:

• An advanced degree in engineering and experience with scientific instrumentation development, project management, and/or technical supervision.

• Experience with X-ray instrumentation.

• Experience with user facilities and/or national laboratories.

• Formal training/experience in systems engineering processes and methodologies.

SLAC manager competencies:

• Results Through Others: Achieves expected results by effectively delegating and managing the work of others.

• Aligns Priorities: Ensures planning and prioritization of resources and work efforts; ensures alignment of direct and matrix reports to support organizational goals and business plans.

• Applies Lab Acumen: Maintains understanding of lab efforts and direction as well as current research and trends, considers technology and customer impacts, and contributes relevant, informed ideas to lab growth.

• Navigates Complexity: Demonstrates effective problem-solving and decision-making in complex situations; manages a multitude of information and circumstances to discern what is most important; takes appropriate action, even with conflicting data or in difficult situations.

• Communication: Ensures effective information flow to various audiences and creates and delivers clear, appropriate written, spoken, presented messages.

• Relationships: Builds relationships to foster trust, collaboration, and a positive climate to achieve common goals.

• Self-awareness: Seeks feedback from others and takes ownership of, and actions to address what is learned; recognizes impact on others and adjusts as needed; pursues continuous learning opportunities; implements a meaningful development plan.

• Team Effectiveness: Effectively motivates team members and fosters a diverse and collaborative environment; leverages individual members¿ strengths for overall team effectiveness; incorporates insights to improve team operations.

• Purpose & Vision: Articulates a clear vision of expected outcomes; inspires others to execute work plans and feel a sense of purpose and ownership for the mission.

• Attracts & Develops Employee Talent: Plans for, attracts, and hires the right talent for current and future organizational needs; operates with a focus on growing internal talent through organizational and staff development; values and encourages continuous growth development through a blend of work experiences, coaching, and formal learning; aligns individual development with organizational needs and objectives.

Physical requirements and Working conditions:

• Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

Work standards:

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.

• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for environment, safety and security; communicates related concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Meets the applicable roles and responsibilities as described in the ESH Manual, Chapter 1¿General Policy and Responsibilities: http://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/pdfs/ESHch01.pdf

• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu/ Policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu/.

• Job Classification: Research Technical Manager 2

• Grade: M Job Cod: 4987

• Duration ¿ Regular containing

The expected pay range for this position is $181,14 to $224,941per annum. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory/Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer and supports diversity in the workplace. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital or family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information. All staff at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory must be able to demonstrate the legal right to work in the United States. SLAC is an E-Verify employer.