Experimental Physicist

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world's leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for an Experimental Physicist within the Energy Group located in San Diego (Torrey Pines), CA.

The successful candidate will become a member of the Development Team supporting quantum technology, metrology and coating development work, broadly applying hands-on skills in equipment building, process development, data analysis to support rapidly evolving needs.

The ideal candidate is responsible for determining and developing effective approaches for resolving a wide range of difficult engineering and scientific problems. Assignments are normally outlined in terms of overall objectives and anticipated results. Work is reviewed at milestones or at completion for adequacy in meeting objectives. Documents findings, communicates results to scientific staff and makes technical presentations as required. May coordinate segments of a specific project and may have frequent inter-organization and customer contact on difficult technical issues. Provides direction to design or technical staff and may provide direction to less experienced professional staff.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design, construct, field complex scientific instruments in a team environment to support application development in manufacturing (including but not limited to thin and thick film coating), metrology, diagnostics, subsystem design and testing, and/or other unique scientific instruments.
• Addresses complex and difficult technical issues requiring novel and highly creative approaches drawing on advanced scientific concepts. Executes research to understand materials characterization, develop new coating method and associated metrology techniques, implement knowledge gained to improve production reliability, and the necessary engineering maturation to bring technology to the market.
• Anticipates future scientific needs and the modifications required to accomplish a technical goal. Leverage engineering and scientific knowledge of internal and external experts to define what is current state-of-art, understand deficiency from a real-world application perspective, and suggest technical solutions and roadmaps to bridge such gap.
• Propose experiments, publish in recognized scientific journals, present work at national and international level, pursue research projects, and work with and provide support to the wider Energy Group team, national laboratory collaborators, and private fusion energy start-up companies in the above topic areas.
• Responsible for observing all laws, regulations and other applicable obligations wherever and whenever business is conducted on behalf of the Company. Expected to work in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices
• Provides expert guidance and consulting to other staff members working on difficult scientific problems.
• May participate in program review, both internal and external.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelors degree, Masters degree or PhD in a scientific or related technical field and progressively complex scientific experience as follows; six or more years experience with a Bachelors degree, four or more years experience with a Masters degree, and two or more with a PhD. Equivalent scientific experience may be substituted in lieu of education.
• Must demonstrate
  • an extensive technical expertise and application of scientific concepts, principles, and theory with regards to experimental design, equipment engineering and problem solving;
  • experience demonstrating a broad application of those concepts; and
  • hands on experience in laboratory settings with analytical instruments an expanding knowledge of principles, concepts, theory, and practice in related to these technical specialties.
  • a first principles understanding for their discipline, and analytical techniques they apply in the execution of the scientific method.
  • the ability to organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones with some experience in project leadership;
  • good communication skills to interface with a wide range of audience,
  • and have original work(s) published in professional scientific journals or formal technical equivalents.

• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Security clerarance.
• Some business travel expected.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE:
Experience and understanding of the following is desirable:

• Practical knowledge on building sophisticated scientific instruments, performing system testing and integration into more complex system.
• Hands on skills in vacuum equipment and cryogenic systems, performance characterization of such systems.
• Practical experience with various types of physical vapor deposition techniques, associated process development, and the associated materials characterization methods.
• Perform integration, testing and validation of integrated scientific instruments at customer sites.
• Software development capability using LabVIEW, Python, Matlab. Be able to integrate equipment and perform data acquisition in LabVIEW, understand and modify existing Python, LabVIEW and Matlab scripts, or create new ones to perform data analysis, algorithm development, and large data set management.
• Some knowledge of CAD drawing software such as SolidWork, and optical simulation tool such as Zemax.
• Self-driven project management
• Good communication skills to interface with people with diverse education background and communication style.
• Familiarity with quantum sensors (magnetometers, gravimeters, transition edge sensors, superconducting nanowire detectors, Rydberg atoms, etc), PNT navigation and quantum communication is highly desirable, especially in technology maturation and practical fielding.
• Familiarity with optical microscopy, x-ray and gamma ray technology and instrumentation is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with RF technology and RF components testing is desirable but not required.