Electrical Technician - Brookhaven National Laboratory

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

The mission of the Collider-Accelerator Department (C-AD) is to operate, maintain, improve, and upgrade the suite of electron, proton, and heavy ion accelerators used to carry out a program of accelerator-based experiments at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). To support this program, the C-AD must design, fabricate, assemble, test, install, and operate unique research equipment to generate, transport, transfer, accelerate, focus, track, collide, and absorb high intensity particle beams up to energies of 250 GeV.  This includes a combination of custom designed and built parts and vendor produced components developed by a collaboration of the C-AD scientific, engineering, and technical staff. The C-AD supports an international user community of over 1,500 scientists. The C-AD performs all these functions in an environmentally-responsible and safe manner, under a rigorous conduct of operations approach.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Collider-Accelerator Departments Accelerator Division Cryogenics group is responsible for operating and maintaining the helium refrigeration and distribution plant that utilizes helium to achieve and maintain ultra-low temperatures required for superconducting magnets and in specific processes and experiments in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC).  The Cryo Group also operates and maintains other smaller helium plants that cool satellite experimental devices that contribute to the RHIC scientific mission.

The Accelerator Division Cryogenics Group currently has an opening for an electrical technician. Operating under the guidance of the controls and instrumentation (C&I) technical supervisor and collaborating with engineers and a cross-functional technical team, the electrical technician is responsible for installing, maintaining, calibrating, and repairing instrumentation and controls equipment, electronics, and other electrical equipment. This equipment includes sensors, transmitters, transducers, analog and digital electronics, as well as components and installations of PLC-based distributed control systems that form an integral part of the cryo-plant controls and instrumentation system.

The selected candidate will be placed at the appropriate professional level dependent upon education, skills and relevant working experience. This position has a high level of interaction with an international and multicultural scientific community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Install, maintain, calibrate, troubleshoot, and repair electrical and electronic equipment, sensors, transmitters, transducers, analog and digital electronics, as well as components and installations of PLC-based distributed control systems that are in the scope of the Collider Accelerator Division (C-AD) Cryo Group.

• Work to maintain BNLs policies and practices for the safe conduct of research by completing all required safety and compliance training, participating in work and safety planning, following procedures and work plans, wearing appropriate PPE, and maintaining safe work areas.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

•  Requires a high school diploma or equivalent plus:

  • a BS degree in a technical field as defined below or;

  • a technical institute, Adult BOCES certification, AA degree in a technical field, CCI program completion at BNL plus 4 years experience as defined below or;

  • a technical high school certification program (e.g. BOCES) and 5 years relevant work experience as defined below or;

  • 6 years relevant military, apprenticeship, and work experience including calibration, maintenance and repair of complex electronic, and mechanical control systems on a benchtop and in the field

• Proficient in reading, interpreting, and utilizing schematics, P&ID's, and wiring diagrams to support electronic controls and instrumentation (C&I) installations and troubleshooting processes

• Must be able to repair, modify, and build electrical/electronic systems from schematic drawings and assemble chassis using basic mechanical fabrication techniques

• Capability to diagnose at the component level during troubleshooting

• Experience in the field of pressure, temperature, level and flow instrumentation, and Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based control systems 

• Familiarity with the use of standard test and measurement equipment, such as function generators, oscilloscopes, multi-meters, and pressure standards is essential

• Basic computer skills and experience using Microsoft Office products

• Valid driver's license and ability to drive on-site during normal work hours and for emergency call-in hours.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent plus:

  • a BS degree in a technical field and 2 years work experience as defined below or;

  • a technical institute, Adult BOCES certification, AA degree in a technical field, CCI program completion at BNL plus 6 years experience as defined below or;

  • a technical high school certification program (e.g. BOCES) and 7 years relevant work experience as defined below or;

  • 8 years relevant military, apprenticeship, and work experience including calibration, maintenance and repair of complex electronic, and mechanical control systems on a benchtop and in the field

• Knowledge in analog/digital electronics and electric motor control systems

• Experience reading, interpreting, and using Schematics, P&ID’s and wiring diagrams, to assist with C&I installations and troubleshooting

• Basic understanding of PLC ladder logic and function block diagrams

• Experience in the field of pressure, temperature, level and flow instrumentation, and Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based control systems in large refrigeration systems or other large industrial or scientific process plant environments

• Experience installing, calibrating, and repairing controls and instrumentation systems in large industrial or scientific process plant environments

• Working knowledge of safety codes and standards related to electrical work and training in the application of lock-out tag-out to protect workers.

• Basic machine shop skills and soldering techniques

Environmental, Health & Safety Requirements:

• Individual will be required to climb ladders and/or work in Confined Spaces

• Individual will be required to work in Oxygen Deficiency Hazard area

• Individual will be required to work in High Noise environment

• Individual will be required to work in Static Magnetic fields area greater than 5 Gauss

• Individual will be required to become a qualified Radiation Worker and may be required to work in radiation areas

• Individual will be required to occasionally work off-hours, nights or weekends to support troubleshooting and repair of mission critical systems

Other Information:

• This position is a bargaining unit role, and the incumbent will need to become a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 30

• Individual will be required to occasionally work off-hours, nights or weekends to support troubleshooting and repair of mission critical systems

• This is a fully onsite position

Compensation:

Brookhaven Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. This is a multi-level role and the full salary range for this position is $72050 - $96850 / year. You will be placed at the level and salary commensurate with your experience.  Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification, education and experience and considered with the internal peer group.