Engineer Instrumentation and Control

$81,080 - $141,650/Yr

General Atomics - San Diego, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

San Diego, CA

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

General Atomics (GA) is a leading resource for high-technology systems development, and we are currently seeking a mid-level Instrumentation and Control (I&C) engineer to join our Engineering and Projects team in the Energy Group. This role is integral to the design, development, and fabrication of components and systems for Fusion applications, including ITER and DIII-D. The successful candidate will work under moderate supervision and will be responsible for various aspects of data acquisition and instrumentation hardware, control software, and the implementation of design specifications. This includes developing industrial control architectures and programming PLCs, microcontrollers, FPGAs, and PC-based control applications. The position involves product development for high lower and low power RF systems, which are essential for heating and driving current in plasma discharges for controlled fusion, as well as monitoring fusion interactions in experimental setups. The products operate within high-frequency RF (microwave) ranges of 30-170 GHz, with RF power levels varying from mW to MW depending on the device. We are looking for a multi-faceted individual who is not only competent in both software and hardware aspects of I&C but also enthusiastic about learning new skills and performing a wide variety of tasks as required. As part of your responsibilities, you will develop project documentation, maintain control systems, and collaborate with a team of project engineers and scientists. You will be expected to effectively communicate technical solutions for control system challenges and interpret electrical and P&ID drawings. Staying proactive with automation and control, instrumentation, maintenance codes, regulations, and industry standards is crucial. You will also provide technical coordination support and evaluate designs to ensure system-level requirements are met, troubleshooting any conflicting requirements that arise during design development and implementation. Additionally, you will document findings and communicate results through technical presentations and reports, and operate high-powered RF systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop project documentation including specifications, diagrams, schematics, test procedures, IO lists, device list, scope of work, startup and shutdown checklists.
• Maintain control systems, networks, and control panels.
• Participate with a team of project engineers and scientists to develop projects as needed.
• Effectively communicate technical solutions for control system challenges.
• Interpret electrical and P&ID drawings and specifications.
• Remain proactive with all automation & control, instrumentation, maintenance codes, regulations, and industry standards.
• Provide technical coordination support for scientists, engineers, and customers.
• Evaluate and guide electrical, mechanical, and software designs to ensure system level requirements are met.
• Troubleshoot conflicting and difficult coordination requirements to support design development and system implementation.
• Devise appropriate approaches to resolve complex engineering and computer problems based on RF system performance requirements and existing RF system controls and data acquisition hardware.
• Document findings and communicate results through technical presentations and reports.
• Operate high-powered RF systems.

Requirements

• Typically requires a bachelor's degree, master's degree, or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience; four or more years of experience with a bachelor's degree or two or more years of experience with a master's degree.
• Must have an understanding of electrical engineering and computer science concepts, principles, and theory, with experience demonstrating a broad application of those concepts.
• Experience with electrical circuit designs, fabrication, assembly, and testing, including schematics, wiring diagrams, basic circuit elements, and programmable logic controllers (PLC); experience with FPGAs is a plus.
• Knowledge of a computer programming language appropriate for instrumentation control, such as Python, C, IDL, and LabVIEW, is highly desired.
• Experience with design and analysis tools such as MatLab, MathCAD, and SPICE is desired.
• Experience designing printed circuit boards using tools such as Altium is desired.
• Experience programming Programmable Logic Controllers using IEC 61131-3 languages and understanding ladder logic is desired.
• Experience with microwave modeling using software packages such as HFSS, CST, and COMSOL is desired.
• Familiarity with circuits to control RF systems is a strong plus; experience working at frequencies from 1 MHz to over 100 GHz is preferred, including familiarity with signal generators, vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and power meters.
• Experience interfacing with equipment in vacuum, cooling, and temperature-monitoring systems is a plus.
• Experience with wiring, soldering, and fabricating with hand tools is desired.
• Must have strong communication, computer, documentation, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with FPGA programming and design.
• Familiarity with advanced RF system controls and data acquisition hardware.
• Experience in a fusion research environment.