Oak Ridge National Laboratory · 1 day ago
Technical Professional- Systems Integration & Operations for Advanced Atomic Force Microscopy
Oak Ridge, TN
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
5+ years expOak Ridge National Laboratory is seeking a skilled technical professional to provide leadership in the integration and operation of advanced Atomic Force Microscopy platforms. The role involves designing and implementing experimental workflows, integrating hardware and software solutions, and supporting user activities within the laboratory.
EnergyChemical & MaterialsRenewable EnergyManufacturingAdvanced MaterialsClean EnergyEnergy ManagementNuclear
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Lead the integration of custom AFM hardware and software systems into a unified, modular, and scalable control architecture
Design, implement, and maintain standardized software frameworks and libraries to support multi-platform operation across all AFM systems
Architect end-to-end experimental workflows that integrate instrument control, data acquisition, processing, storage, and analysis
Develop automated and semi-autonomous measurement pipelines enabling high-throughput, reproducible, and adaptive experimentation
Establish data-flow architectures that support real-time feedback, metadata capture, provenance tracking, and long-term reproducibility
Serve as the primary technical liaison between hardware developers, software engineers, data scientists, and scientific users
Coordinate parallel development efforts to ensure compatibility, sustainability, and adoption of best practices
Lead version control, validation, testing, and release management of shared instrumentation software
Maintain roadmaps for platform evolution, feature development, and infrastructure modernization
Promote collaborative development models, code review, and shared knowledge repositories
Design and implement mechanical, electromechanical, and electronic interfaces for advanced AFM capabilities
Develop user-friendly LabVIEW and Python interfaces for data acquisition, waveform generation, and closed-loop control
Support FPGA-based real-time control, firmware development, and hardware-software co-design
Lead the transition toward “laboratories of the future,” incorporating autonomous measurement, smart scheduling, and cloud-enabled analysis platforms
Enable the integration of AI/ML-assisted tools for experiment planning and execution, parameter optimization and data interpretation into experimental workflows
Evaluate and implement emerging technologies in robotics, edge computing, and intelligent control for next-generation AFM systems
Work with vendors and internal maintenance teams to ensure continuity of operations
Develop internal documentation, tutorials, and troubleshooting guides, providing advanced troubleshooting for hardware and software issues and promote collaborative code review and knowledge-transfer practices
Train new users and staff scientists on custom modes and operational procedures
Support the scientific user program including working directly with users on their user projects
Serve as Lab Space Manager for designated CNMS laboratories, overseeing day-to-day operations, work authorization, and compliance with ES&H requirements
Maintain strong commitment to the implementation and perpetuation of values and ethics
Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service
Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, physics, computer engineering, or related field
A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience
Preferred
Master's degree with a minimum of 4 years of experience, or a PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Engineering, or related field
Experience in research environments focused on advanced SPM or equivalent instrumentation
Strong programming experience for developing custom algorithms (knowledge of programming in LabVIEW and Python environments), along with experience in AI/ML tools and workflows, including training and validating models and integrating ML-driven approaches into instrumentation or data-processing frameworks
Competence in real-time control, automation, and instrument firmware/software co-development, controlling National Instruments hardware, programming Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) systems, computer aided design (CAD) software)
Experience in COMSOL modeling and design, including building Multiphysics simulations and translating results into practical engineering or instrumentation improvements
Experience supporting multiple stakeholders with diverse technical requirements
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
Benefits
Prescription Drug Plan
Dental Plan
Vision Plan
401(k) Retirement Plan
Contributory Pension Plan
Life Insurance
Disability Benefits
Generous Vacation and Holidays
Parental Leave
Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection
Employee Assistance Plan
Flexible Spending Accounts
Health Savings Accounts
Wellness Programs
Educational Assistance
Relocation Assistance
Employee Discounts
Company
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory holds a range of R&D assignments, from fundamental nuclear physics to applied R&D on advanced energy systems.
5001-10000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$9.8MKey Investors
US Department of Energy
2023-09-21Grant· $4.8M
2023-07-27Grant
2022-03-14Grant· $5M
Leadership Team
Arjun Shankar
Division Director, National Center for Computational Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Brett Ellis
Division Director - Research Computing Support
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