Data Acquisition Engineer

Requisition Id 13046 

 

Overview:    

Would you like to join a dynamic and dedicated team of engineers working to build the next generation neutron data handling electronics and software? Your talent and inspiration will help our group take advantage of the latest advances in reconfigurable computing, network processor and inference engines to build out the future of scientific instrumentation! The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) and the High-Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) are world-leading facilities producing neutrons for science. We are a diverse, international and inclusive community of engineers, laborers, scientists, craftspeople and administrators all working together to discover what remains unknown about how our world and the universe we live in works. As a Hardware Engineer in the Data Acquisition Hardware Group, you will use your skills architecting, constructing, and programming embedded systems composed of field programmable gate array (FPGA) devices, multi- and many- core computer processors and in-network computing. There will be ample opportunity for on-the-job training, and you will take part in ensuring the proper operation of these systems for both facilities. 

 

This position reports to the Data Acquisition Hardware Group Leader. You will work closely with other group members and collaborate with external scientific users, instrument scientists, and scientific associates at HFIR and SNS. You will also work with other technical groups including information systems, detector development, data reduction and data analysis software developers. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with system architects and builders at other international facilities and with the scientific user community.  

 

Major Duties/Responsibilities:   

• Develop hardware, FPGA firmware and embedded software for real-time data acquisition systems and perform system-level simulations and verification tests. 

• Support the scientific mission of HFIR and SNS by designing, developing, testing, supporting, maintaining and troubleshooting a variety of modular hardware for reliable neutron instrument data acquisition and control systems. 

• Collaborate with group members and scientific staff in the successful operation of currently installed and newly developed systems. 

• Provide documentation and training for electronic system operation. Maintain design files and code in a central repository using a version control system. Develop and use software quality assurance procedures. 

• Compose technical reports, create presentations tailored to diverse audiences, publish peer-reviewed papers to trade journals and conference proceedings. 

• Provide operational support for the production science instrument data acquisition and control systems.  

• The position is typical office hours, but some off-hours/weekend support is required to support the 24/7 operational needs of the user facility. 

• Ensure and monitor compliance with environment, safety, health, and quality program requirements. Promptly identify ESH and QA issues and communicate them to project and division management, ESH and QA contacts, and/or subcontractor contacts as appropriate. 

• 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 

• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by encouraging a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.  

 

Basic Qualifications: 

• A BS in engineering, science, or physics plus 15 years relevant experience or equivalent combination of experience and education (MS +12 years or PhD +6 years). 

• Proven expertise in at least one of the following: data acquisition systems engineering for scientific research or design of digital signal processing systems for high-speed data acquisition. 

• Demonstrated VHDL expertise with Vivado design software including input/output buffer specification, timing constraints and timing closure. 

• Familiarity with VITIS development environment. 

• Fluency with standard laboratory tools including oscilloscope, multimeter, function generator, protocol analyzer. 

• Demonstrat