Controls Software Engineer

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a Controls Software Engineer within the Engineering division. 

This position will plan, design, develop and test software systems or applications for software enhancements and new products. This position plays a key role in the design, development, and maintenance of advanced control systems for large-scale experimental facilities and scientific instrumentation.

The engineer will work primarily with EPICS (Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System) and associated tools to ensure reliable and efficient operation of experimental equipment, data acquisition systems, and control networks for the ALS. This position offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of scientific research, developing innovative solutions for cutting-edge experiments while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.

We’re here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!

You will:

• Work on complex issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors.
• Determine methods and procedures on new assignments and may coordinate activities of other personnel (Team Lead).
• Develop and deploy control system software using EPICS and associated tools for the ALS.
• Act as a technical lead, maintainer and primary developer for the Accelerator Safety Configuration Control (ASCC) application which is used in the ALS control room.
• Define and maintain the overall system architecture to ensure scalability, reliability, maintainability, and security.
• Design and enhance interactive workflow tools, including safety forms, compliance checklists, schedules, and document repositories.
• Design and implement new components based on evolving requirements.
• Design, deploy, and maintain databases (SQL).
• Construct, enhance, and manage business logic code.
• Provide technical support, troubleshooting, and triage for issues.
• Design, maintain, and deploy software using modern unit testing and deployment techniques.
• Provide expertise and technical leadership in implementing web-based solutions.
• Provide solutions to current problems and contribute to improvement to existing control systems.
• Develop graphical user interfaces and loggers with standard EPICS tools.
• Assist with commissioning of controls and associated software tools with support from domain scientists.
• Maintain and generate documentation describing work done and systems built. Follow standard methodologies for software development in a collaborative environment.
• Successfully finish the safety training required by the Laboratory and employ those skills in daily practice.
• Assist with improvements to team processes including: source control, issue management, code review, documentation, and testing.

We are looking for:

• Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead the support and maintenance of operational computer systems.
• Knowledge and experience with front-end software development and UI best practices.
• Knowledge and experience with back-end software development and API design.
• Experience developing and maintaining SQL databases.
• Experience with Angular and .NET frameworks.
• Experience with C# and JavaScript or TypeScript.
• Knowledge and experience with software project management techniques such as revision control, build tools, issue tracking, continuous integration (CI) tools and methods.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work on complex issues and to exercise judgment in selecting tools and approaches.
• Experience leading or serving as primary technical owner of a software system.
• Experience managing software development in a team setting.
• Ability to work as part of a team, including the ability to interact well with external collaborators and scientists.
• Advanced knowledge of software engineering principles, including object-oriented design, modular software architecture, and best practices for maintainable and scalable systems.
• Knowledge of control systems used in scientific and engineering facilities, including distributed control architectures and instrumentation interfaces.
• Knowledge of programming languages commonly used in control and automation systems such as Python, C/C++, or similar languages.
• Knowledge of Linux-based computing environments and system administration concepts relevant to control systems.
• Knowledge of industrial and scientific communication protocols used for device integration (e.g.,
• TCP/IP, serial interfaces, fieldbus, or other device communication standards).
• Knowledge of data acquisition systems, instrumentation, and sensor integration used in experimental and engineering environments.
• Familiarity with control system frameworks such as Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) or TANGO Controls.
• Designing, developing, testing, and maintaining control system software for complex scientific or engineering systems.
• Integrating hardware devices such as motors, sensors, detectors, and data acquisition equipment into automated control systems.
• Troubleshooting software and hardware interactions, identifying root causes, and implementing reliable solutions.
• Developing user interfaces, automation scripts, and diagnostic tools for control and monitoring of scientific instruments.

Desired skills/knowledge:

• Experience working on scientific experiments and accelerators.
• Past membership in multi-developer software projects.
• Experience working in a scientific research environment.
• Experience supporting safety-critical or regulated operational systems.
• Experience with interdisciplinary projects, including collaboration with both scientific and engineering staff.
• Familiarity with the wide variety of activities and safety workflows at a radiation producing facility such as ALS.
• Ability to carry out system integrations with instruments and sensors.
• Experience with EPICS based control systems.

Additional information:

• Appointment type: This is a full-time 2 year, term appointment with the possibility of extension or conversion to Career appointment based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs.
• Salary range:Background check: This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• Work modality: Work will be primarily performed at: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites (for more information click here).
• Salary range: The expected salary for this position is $157,000 - $192,000, which fits into the full salary of $139,440 - $235,308 depending upon the candidate’s skills, knowledge, and abilities. This includes education, certifications, and years of experience.
• Work authorization: Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: The foundation of Berkeley Lab is our Stewardship Values: Team Science, Service, Trust, Innovation, and Respect; and we strive to build community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We heartily welcome applications from all who could contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, excellence, and professionalism. In support of our rich global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. For additional information, click here.