High Power RF Engineer

Job Title: High Power RF Engineer

Location: Milton Park, Abingdon (OX14)

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

The Role

The ECRH system main goal is to provide plasma heating in the range of electron cyclotron frequencies (80 – 170 GHz). This system is composed of high voltage power supplies, radio-frequency power sources – Gyrotrons, transmission lines and matching systems, high power antennas and plant control system. This position is for an experienced RF engineer to join the EC & RF Heating and CD team to coordinate the commissioning, operation, and future upgrades of new cutting-edge RF heating systems (currently in design and fabrication) in support of the ST40 program.

The role will

• prepare integration of the Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECH) & Current Drive (CD) system into the existing building and ST40 infrastructure
• develop interface details of ECH equipment in collaboration with Machine and Plasma Control Officers
• prepare and check the installation and commissioning plan of ECH subsystems
• develop technical specifications for contracts of R&D or installation work
• support ECH component development, in aspects related to mechanical engineering, installation, commissioning, maintenance and safety

Duties will include

• High-voltage power supply with its controls/interlocks and connections to the site prime power;
• Gyrotron and its support systems: power supply connections, water and oil cooling, cryo-magnet and corresponding controls
• Control systems and interface with the ST40 timing and PCS systems, and associated (hardware) safety interlocks
• Transmission line system including DC breaks, RF switches and dummy loads
• RF diagnostics, arc detection, and data acquisition systems, which all must be tested and calibrated
• Connections to RF antennas mounted in ST40, including associated vacuum windows and optical arc protection systems
• Work with control, instrumentation, vacuum, HV and other staff engineers to optimize system performance and respond to on-going requests from research staff
• Participate in vacuum conditioning and routine operation of the RF system
• Prepare specifications of R&D contracts to support design development
• Participate in relevant ECH procurement arrangements and communicate developments in ECH design integration
• Formulate installation sequences, perform clash analysis and actively contribute to the ECH construction process
• Prepare specifications of installation contracts for ECH equipment
• Troubleshoot, repair and maintain microwave components and systems
• Work with scientists, engineers, and technicians to develop requirements for the microwave launcher systems and transmission line components
• Responsible for resource planning, scheduling & budgeting for operations, maintenance, refurbishments & upgrades of responsible systems
• Responsible for personnel safety of their own working group as well as others having contact with their equipment
• Flexibility in work hours is necessary to cover extended operation days and when emergency repairs are needed to recover from a system failure

Essential Selection Criteria

• A Bachelor’s, Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering or other relevant discipline. At least 5 years’ experience in mechanical design, engineering, integration and manufacturing of large complex system. Extensive professional experience and/or additional training certificates in relevant areas will be considered
• Demonstrate an extensive technical expertise and application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice with the ability to organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones with some experience in project leadership
• Must have a complete understanding of high-power microwave technology; principles and practices in millimetre wave generation, transmission and detection; experience demonstrating a broad application of those concepts, practices and principles
• Must possess the ability to; understand new concepts quickly; apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems
• Experience with ZEMAX, Quickwave, HFSS or other similar software is a bonus
• Experience with LabView, Solidworks desirable
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required and must be capable of representing the organization as a prime technical contact, as well as providing leadership and guidance to less experienced professionals
• Experience with High power (100kW-1MW) Gyrotron operations and associated support systems is highly desirable

Benefits

• 25 Days Holiday (plus bank holidays)
• Company Pension scheme: Company contribution of 5% of salary after 3 months’ service
• Eligible for company share option scheme after one years’ service
• Company bonus scheme, discretionary, dependent on performance
• Private medical insurance after 3 months’ service

Please click the APPLY button to send your CV and Cover Letter for the role

Candidates with the experience or relevant job titles of; RF Engineer, Microwave Engineer, High Voltage Engineer, Engineering Graduate, RF Project Manager, Radio-Frequency Engineer may also be considered for this role