Beamline Control Systems - Group Leader

Harwell, Oxfordshire

Full time / Flexible hours considered

About Us

Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron; a huge scientific facility designed to produce very intense beams of X-rays, infrared and ultraviolet light. Our scientists use the light to study a vast range of subject matter, from new medicines and treatments for disease to innovative engineering and cutting-edge technology.

Software helps to enable the world-leading science performed at Diamond. Our software systems facilitate operations at all levels, including the low-level control of synchrotron and beamline hardware.

About the Role

We now have an opportunity for a Beamline Control Systems Group Leader who will provide leadership and management of the design, development, commissioning, and operational support of distributed controls systems to support the design, development and operation of the beamlines and experiment station at Diamond, as well as the technical development and support of control system software.

The role will work closely with the Data Acquisition Group Leader, to jointly manage the aligned controls and data acquisition teams and develop overall technical direction for beamline control systems and data acquisition. The role will work in close collaboration with other software and IT groups in Diamond to deliver an integrated service.

You will be responsible for the line management and development of the beamline controls staff of eighteen.

The Diamond Photon beamlines and experiment station are controlled through a distributed, heterogeneous computing environment, using embedded systems for direct control of the instrumentation, together with Linux workstations for the operator interfaces. The software makes extensive use of the open source EPICS Control System tool kit (https://www.aps.anl.gov/epics) with EPICS servers interfaced to underlying hardware. For large area pixel detectors, the EPICS Area Detector extensions are used to provide high data rate paths to parallel file systems and streaming data to client applications. The client applications comprise general-purpose tools for synoptic display management, alarm handling and archiving, as well as bespoke tools to manage the data acquisition processes

About You

You will hold an Honours degree in physics, electrical engineering, computer science or similar, and demonstrate relevant experience.

You will demonstrate extensive experience in the software design and/or programming of industrial or scientific systems, as well as knowledge and experience in:

• Modern programming languages and techniques.
• Developing software in a real time distributed control environment.
• Developing in a Unix environment.
• Developing with a source code control and structured release environment.
• Using software testing and debugging tools and developing automated test harnesses.
• Operation of accelerators.
• EPICS toolkit.
• Photon beamlines and experiment stations. 

Knowledge of Interfacing and readout of high-speed area detectors and an appreciation of synchrotron light-based science will also be an advantage.

Benefits

Diamond offers an exceptional benefits package to support staff in achieving a positive work/life balance. This includes 25 days annual leave plus 13 days of statutory and company holidays, along with flexible working hours and an excellent pension scheme. Staff also have access to a range of amenities on site including a nursery, cafes, a restaurant and sports and leisure facilities. A relocation allowance may also be available where applicable.

To Apply

Please use the online application process to apply and tell us why you believe you are suitable for this role.

The initial closing date for applications is 30^th April 2023 with interviews taking place on 11^th May 2023.

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