AcceleRAD is the world's leading supplier of linear particle accelerator systems. As a vertically integrated design and manufacturing company, we turn difficult engineering problems into working hardware every day. We are a small, highly technical team, so engineers have real ownership and can work across disciplines. Our systems combine electron beams, RF, high voltage, vacuum, precision mechanical design, controls, thermal management, material handling, and radiation shielding, creating an unusually broad range of interesting problems to solve. We value engineers who are curious, practical, willing to get their hands dirty, and excited to turn good ideas into real products. We are seeking a Senior Accelerator Physicist to design and develop accelerator hardware and related high-performance mechanical systems. Description We are specifically looking for an accelerator physicist who combines simulation expertise with strong physical intuition and hands-on engineering ability. Running accelerator codes is part of the job, but it is not the job. The successful candidate should understand why an accelerator behaves the way it does, be able to develop useful analytical models and first-principles estimates, design experiments, interpret measurements, troubleshoot real hardware, and work with engineers to translate beam-physics requirements into machines that can actually be built. Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop beam-dynamics and RF designs for electron linear accelerators.
• Establish accelerator requirements including energy, current, pulse structure, emittance, energy spread, beam size, transmission, and stability.
• Develop accelerator structures, bunching systems, focusing systems, beam transport, and beam diagnostics.
• Perform analytical calculations and numerical simulations of beam dynamics and electromagnetic structures.
• Use appropriate accelerator and electromagnetic simulation tools while understanding their underlying physics, assumptions, and limitations.
• Develop first-principles models to rapidly evaluate concepts and check simulation results.
• Translate physics requirements into practical engineering requirements for RF, mechanical, vacuum, controls, magnets, diagnostics, and power systems.
• Work closely with mechanical engineers to design manufacturable components and products
• Define tolerance and understand how mechanical, RF, magnetic, and electrical errors affect accelerator performance.
• Develop commissioning plans and beam-tuning procedures.
• Personally participate in accelerator commissioning, measurements, beam tuning, and troubleshooting.
• Analyze measured data and identify the underlying cause of accelerator performance problems.
• Design experiments to distinguish between competing explanations for unexpected system behavior.
• Work with RF and mechanical engineers on accelerator structure design, RF coupling, field distributions, thermal effects, and fabrication tolerances.
• Develop beam diagnostic methods appropriate for industrial accelerators.
• Support development of new accelerator architectures and applications.
• Lead technically challenging accelerator development projects and mentor less experienced engineers and physicists. Qualifications
• Ph.D., M.S., or equivalent substantial experience in accelerator physics, applied physics, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• Significant experience with electron accelerators, preferably RF linear accelerators.
• Strong understanding of charged-particle dynamics, RF acceleration, bunching and longitudinal dynamics, transverse focusing and beam transport, beam loading, space-charge effects, RF structures, and beam diagnostics.
• Experience with accelerator simulation tools such as ASTRA, GPT, PARMELA, Elegant, MAD-X, or similar tools.
• Experience with electromagnetic simulation tools and RF cavity analysis.
• Strong analytical ability and comfort working from Maxwell's equations, equations of motion, equivalent circuits, scaling relationships, and first-principles estimates when appropriate.
• Demonstrated ability to compare simulation predictions with experimental measurements.
• Experience commissioning or troubleshooting actual accelerators.
• Ability to work closely with mechanical, RF, electrical, controls, and manufacturing engineers. Preferred
• Ability to look at measured beam behavior and develop plausible physical explanations.
• Ability to estimate the magnitude of an effect before running a simulation.
• Ability to determine what measurement would confirm or reject a hypothesis.
• Ability to recognize when a simulation result is physically unreasonable.
• Understanding of how accelerator design interacts with RF source behavior, fabrication tolerances, vacuum, thermal effects, magnets, and controls.
• Hands-on accelerator commissioning and troubleshooting experience.
• Excitement to make engineering tradeoffs to quickly deliver products.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements Primarily onsite work in an engineering, laboratory, manufacturing, and office environment. Frequent use of computer and engineering software; regular interaction with laboratory and production hardware. Ability to move throughout the facility and, when required, travel to suppliers or customer sites. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

This position is primarily based in a manufacturing environment and involves working with furnace, brazing, and vacuum equipment. Occasional support may also be required in the warehouse and shipping/receiving areas. The majority of work is performed in a manufacturing facility. The employee will frequently sit, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or maintain balance, and use hands and fingers for grasping and handling materials. The position requires the ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds on a regular basis. Employees will frequently perform physical activities such as bending, twisting, pushing, pulling, squatting, kneeling, crawling, and climbing. Regular use of a computer, telephone, and writing instruments is required, and employees may spend extended periods standing while conducting presentations or training. While performing job duties, employees may occasionally be exposed to moving mechanical equipment and industrial vehicles. The manufacturing environment has a high noise level, while office areas are typically quiet to moderately noisy. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Pay:

$130,000.00 - $145,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Parental leave Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person