Synchrotron Beamline Technician

About the team/job

The Hamburg Unit of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (www.embl-hamburg.de) operates three beamlines on the PETRA III synchrotron at DESY. Applying high-end instrumentation including X-ray optics, cryogenics, UHV technology, robotics, and high-precision mechanics, our beamlines enable biologists to use X-rays for addressing their research questions by diffraction, scattering and imaging techniques. Staff working at the synchrotron radiation beamlines benefits from cutting-edge technology. Every year, several hundred researchers from many different institutions and countries are carrying out experiments on our facilities after competitive evaluation of their projects. 

An exciting opportunity is available for a highly motivated Research Technician to strengthen the instrumentation team (https://www.embl.org/groups/fiedler/) in the operation and development of the beamline facilities both at the current PETRA III and the planned future PETRA IV synchrotron. 

Your role

You will be part of an international team of technicians, engineers, administrators and scientists. You will work closely with the User Office and the beamline staff to ensure smooth logistics for arriving and departing cryogenically cooled samples.

You will support the operation of our current beamlines and be involved in the preparation and implementation of new facilities for PETRA III and towards PETRA IV. The work includes direct responsibility for all cryogenic equipment and its controls (e.g. for operating monochromators at liquid nitrogen temperature), servicing and developing beamline infrastructure (e.g. cooling water, gases, compressed air), and the documentation of procedures.

As our facilities are providing services 24/7 on often precious samples, ad hoc trouble-shooting and repair are an important part of the job, the position requires (and allows for) a flexible working schedule. The working language is English. 

You have

• a relevant qualification as a technician or engineer
• experience in cryogenics
• good knowledge of desktop software applications
• excellent organisational skills
• very good communication skills
• ability to work in a team as well as independently  

You might also have

• experience in PLC design and/or programming.
• experience in mechanics
• experience in vacuum technologies
• ability to communicate in German, e.g. with suppliers and neighbouring scientific institutes 

Why join us

EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, EMBL offers attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation with a very collegial and family friendly working environment.

Competitive salary, ongoing professional development, collaboration with colleagues from other EMBL sites, all make EMBL a great place to work. Our mission has us exploring life at all levels, and creating new ways to look at the world. Our reputation is built on scientific excellence and collaboration, and the projects we take on require all kinds of people and working styles, from big-picture creatives to patient detail-seekers.

** Don’t meet every single requirement? We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. 

What else you need to know

We are Europe’s flagship research laboratory for the life sciences – an intergovernmental organisation performing scientific research in disciplines including molecular biology, physics, chemistry and computer science. We are an international, innovative and interdisciplinary laboratory with approximately 1900 employees from many nations, operating across six sites, in Heidelberg (HQ), Barcelona, Hinxton near Cambridge, Hamburg, Grenoble and Rome. Our mission is to offer vital services; in training scientists, students and visitors at all levels; to develop new instruments and methods in the life sciences, and actively engage in technology transfer activities, and to integrate European life science research.

Please note that appointments on fixed term contracts can be renewed up to 9 years, depending on circumstances at the time of the review.

EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we implement best practices in research assessment in our recruitment processes here.