About the position
Postion Summary:
iThemba LABS seeks to appoint an Instrumentation Engineer who will be responsible for the maintenance and installation of radiation detectors in coordination with internal and external users.
The Instrumentation Engineer will be responsible for the maintenance and installation of radiation detectors in coordination with internal and external users.
Key Responsibilities:
- Apply expertise in radiation detectors
- Guide and support the users and undertake installation of existing radiation detector systems on the beamlines
- Provide professional support to the construction, assembly, testing, installation, commissioning, and operation of radiation detector systems
- Perform appropriate maintenance of detectors/electronics
- Provide training to students in the use of different types of detectors used at iThemba LABS
- Work closely with internal scientific staff & external scientific users for the support of the detector systems
- Maintain a testing and maintenance program on detectors
- Fault finding of defective detector systems
- Use of software packages, such as MIDAS, Radware, and ROOT, for data analysis to measure the performance of detectors
- Maintain and update documents and records for the maintenance of detectors
- Design/produce small scale items (electronic /mechanical /software) related to detector or electronics support
- Operate high vacuum pumping systems
- Operate cryogenic systems
- Play a pivotal role in motivation for, design and commissioning of new experimental facilities (coordinating a team and a budget)
- Be the link between the Instrumentation and IT department and the research departments to keep detection equipment and data acquisition systems in working order
- Consult with users on requirements for approved projects and possible future experiments
- Provide regular updated reports on status of detector and associated electronics
Key Requirements:
Qualification:
- BSc / B Tech Electronics Engineering
- MSc in experimental nuclear physics/MSc in Physics or Applied Physics is advantageous
- Minimum of at least 2 years working experience in either:
- Analogue electronics
- Semiconductor technology
- Low-electronic noise signal processing
- Radiation detectors or radiation physics
- Experience in programming language: C++/Python
- Experience with radiation detectors
- Experience with vacuum techniques
Experience:
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Good teaching and training skills
- Excellent analytical thinking skills
- Excellent problem-solving abilities
- Good hardware design skills
- Good communication and team working skills
- Ability to work under pressure with minimum supervision
- Ability to work as an individual and as a member of a team
Knowledge:
- Good software programming skills
- Strong mechanical aptitude
- In-depth knowledge of analogue electronics
- Knowledge of ROOT/Radware or equivalent for data plotting and spectra fitting
- Ability to work safely in a laboratory environment
- Mechanical / Electronic aptitude skills
- Willingness to learn on how to use new software packages and detection systems
Additional Notes:
Availability to work outside regular working hours.
The NRF website provides more details on the initiatives and activities
Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by registering and apply online through the NRF Recruitment and Selection Portal. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicants suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.
Desired Skills:
- Analogue electronics
- vacuum techniques
- programming language: C++/Python
- hardware design
About The Employer:
The National Research Foundation (NRF) supports and promotes research and human capital development through funding, the provision of National Research Facilities and science outreach platforms and programmes to the broader community in all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities.
iThemba LABS is Africa's leading research facility for accelerator-based science that is committed to advancing knowledge, transforming lives and inspiring the nation. We do this through probing fundamental aspects of nuclear structure, investigating the origins of matter, and advancing humanity's understanding of condensed matter. In addition, we have a direct societal impact through the provision of radioisotopes for the health sector and a biophysics research program focussing on the impact of radiation on human health, as well as isotope analysis for the environmental sector.
