Power Electronics Engineer

Requisition Id 9829 

Overview:   

We are seeking a Power Electronics Engineer for the Electrical Power Conversion Group in the Accelerator Systems Section of the Research Accelerator Division (RAD) within the Neutron Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Selection will be based on qualifications, relevant experience, skills, and education.  

The Accelerator Systems Section is responsible for safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation, maintenance, and improvement of the SNS Accelerator systems including Front End, normal conducting RF structures, superconducting RF (SRF) structures, high power RF, low-level RF, high voltage converter modulators (HVCM), DC and pulsed power systems, Central Helium Liquefier (CHL), Cryogenic Moderator System (CMS), and focused R&D in advanced ion source, SRF and advances lasers techniques. 

The Electrical Power Conversion Group is leading efforts for maintenance, operational support, system engineering, improvement, and upgrade of HVCM, high speed H- beam choppers, pulse power systems for beam injection and extraction in the ring, and dc power supplies for magnets which provide beam shaping and positioning; R&Ds for HVCM and pulsed power systems.  The Group’s mission is to safely and reliably operate SNS accelerator power conversion equipment, to advance those systems through targeted development, to advance power conversion technologies in the international accelerator community, and to achieve world-class operational excellence. 

Major Duties/Responsibilities:   

• Evaluate existing HVCM, magnet power supplies, kicker, and chopper systems to enhance performance, address limitations, improve availability and address obsolescence issues. 

• Specify, develop, and procure subsystems and components. 

• Provide accelerator operations support for the SNS facilities operating 365/24/7, including occasional after hours call-in to achieve neutron production with >90% availability. 

• Plan, manage, and execute maintenance and upgrade work.  Utilize work control tools to efficiently plan and conduct these activities. 

• Develop design, installation, training, testing, maintenance, and procurement documentation and procedures. 

• Provide training in the installation, training, testing, maintenance procedures to junior staff members. 

• Present your work at conferences, workshops, collaboration meetings and sponsor reviews.  Some travel may be required. 

• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, health, and quality program requirements. 

• You will be expected to be willing to learn new skills and to train others. 

• Working with other staff members, develop proposals to perform research on innovative accelerator electrical applications. 

• As a member of the ORNL scientific community, you will be expected to commit to ORNL's Research Code of Conduct.  Our full code of conduct, and a statement by the Lab Director's office can be found here:  https://www.ornl.gov/content/research-integrity  

Basic Qualifications: 

• BS in Electrical Engineering or related field with 5 or more years of relevant work experience or MS in Electrical Engineering or related field with 3 or more years of relevant work experience. 

• Solid understanding of analog and digital circuits and basic electric circuit theory. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Comprehensive understanding of power electronics, electromagnetic fields, very high-power semiconductor devices and pulsed power systems exceeding 50 kV. 

• Expertise in troubleshooting electronic systems and use of standard laboratory test equipment. 

• Experience working with electrical safety principles in a setting that includes severe electrical hazards. 

• Experience creating engineering drawings, specifications, procedures, reports, statements of work, journal and conference papers, and plans. 

• Experience with circuit simulation, mechanical CAD and printed circuit board design software and tools. 

• Experience designing and maintaining high power electronics and magnetics from a conceptual level to a deployable system. 

• Knowledge of AC power distribution concepts to medium voltage levels. 

• Working knowledge of the National Electric Code, NFPA-70E and NFPA-70B. 

• Detailed knowledge of high-power magnet power supplies and pulsed power systems used in accelerators. 

• Knowledge of Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) and methods to effectively implement. 

• Experience with finite element electromagnetic analysis software. 

• Strong data analysis skills and use of associated software. 

• Experience programming FPGAs, PLCs and using LabView software. 

• Operational experience with a large accelerator facility. 

• Direct knowledge and experience with high-power magnet power supplies and pulsed power systems used in accelerators. 

• Experience planning and managing large projects. 

• Applied research in the power conversion field. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills. 

• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.   

• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.  

About Neutron Sciences Directorate: 
The Neutron Sciences Directorate (NScD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) operates the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), the United States’ highest flux reactor-based neutron source, and the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), the world’s most intense pulsed accelerator-based neutron source.  Together these facilities operate 30 instruments for neutron scattering research, each year carrying out in excess of 1,000 experiments in the physical, chemical, materials, biological and medical sciences for more than 3,000 visiting scientists.  HFIR also provides unique facilities for isotope production and neutron irradiation.  To learn more about Neutron Sciences at ORNL go to http://neutrons.ornl.gov. 

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.