Physicist on the ATLAS Experiment

Benefits: 30 days holiday + 8 bank holidays + 2.5 privilege days + exceptional pension + excellent work life balance

Contract Type: 3 year fixed term contract (with a view to becoming open-ended)

Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire

The Particle Physics Department (PPD) at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), is one of the largest Particle Physics groups in the UK. We investigate the fundamental particles of nature and the forces that act between them. We design, construct, operate and exploit some of the most sensitive scientific instruments in the world, collaborating with partners in academia, industry and international laboratories such as CERN. We currently work with the ATLAS, CMS, LHCb, DUNE, Hyper-K, Super-K, T2K, nuSTORM, Lux-Zeplin, XLZD, LiquidO/nuCLOUD, MIGDAL, Electron Ion Collider, AION, SWIFT-HEP, Detector R&D (DRD) and GridPP Collaborations.

About the role

An opportunity has arisen within PPD to work on the upgrade of the ATLAS experiment at CERN for the High-Luminosity LHC era. The role will focus on the development and deployment of the new Level-0 Global Trigger and the upgrade of the Level-0 Calorimeter trigger, needed to handle the increased collision rates and intensity as part of the High-Luminosity LHC programme. The RAL PPD group is responsible for the design and manufacture of components of the Level-0 Global Trigger along with the maintenance and upgrade of the existing electron feature extractor (eFEX) for High Luminosity LHC. Together with colleagues from UK universities and beyond, the group will commission and operate the systems within ATLAS at CERN.

About you

Duties/Work Programme/Responsibilities

• You will play a key role in the development and integration of the L0 Global Trigger as a large-scale system, along with the re-commissioning of the eFEX, ahead of High-Luminosity LHC data taking
• Become an expert in all aspects of the system, able to provide design recommendations to maximise operational stability and performance
• As a member of the RAL PPD ATLAS L1Calo Group, you'll work closely with other group members and with engineers in the RAL Technology Department along with members of related detector teams within ATLAS and with the ATLAS Trigger and Data Acquisition community.

Contacts and Communication

The post is within the ATLAS L1Calo Group at RAL. Close working is essential with collaborators in UK universities and in an international environment at CERN and elsewhere. You will become a member of the international ATLAS experiment.

Other Relevant Information
You would be expected to travel periodically to meetings within the UK, at CERN and at collaborating institutes. A substantial fraction of the time could be spent on long term attachment at CERN during commissioning and subsequent operation of equipment.

You would be able to spend an amount of your time contributing to ATLAS physics analysis, or other research and development within the trigger and data acquisition field as opportunities arise.

The following criteria will be assessed through shortlisting (S), at Interview (I) or both (S&I)

Essential

• Ph.D. in Physics or a related subject, or equivalent experience (S).
• Relevant post-graduate experience (S&I).
• Programming experience. Our systems currently use C++ and Python. (I)
• Ability to work in a distributed international team (I)
• Possessing good communication skills in individual discussions, presentations and written documentation (I)
• Self-motivated problem solver (I)
• Able to work to deadlines (I). 
• Experience handling and developing large-scale systems (I)
• Experience of real-time software development, preferably in Linux or Unix (S&I)
• Experience of integrating and using programmable hardware for modern real-time systems (I).

Special Requirements

Willing to travel in UK and Internationally and at some stage to be based at CERN on Long Term Attachment (I)
Work in the ATLAS underground controlled radiation environment (I) (Due to the nature and dimensions of this area, there is currently restricted access via a staircase).
Working with electronics modules at all heights within electronics racks (I).

How to apply

Please supply the names and addresses of three referees when applying. For an informal discussion about this role please contact: Dr. Robin Middleton robin.middleton@stfc.ac.uk

We are offering a 3 year fixed term contract with a whole host of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• An excellent average salary pension scheme.
• Employee shopping/travel discounts.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are invested in creating an environment that is welcoming and supportive of all. In this regard, we encourage applications from under-represented groups.

As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK.  You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y