Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.

Job Summary

LIGO Laboratory (the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) seeks a highly motivated and skilled Detector IT Leader to join its team.
This position is an in-person role located at our observatory in Livingston, LA.

LIGO Laboratory is a National Science Foundation major facility dedicated to observing the newly discovered gravitational-wave universe. Jointly operated by the California Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the LIGO Laboratory operates world-leading observatories near Richland, WA and Baton Rouge, LA as well as R&D centers on the Caltech and MIT campuses. The LIGO Laboratory’s mission spans a broad and vibrant array of activities related to gravitational-wave physics and astronomy, including detector operations, R&D toward detector improvements, gravitational-wave astrophysics, observatory operations, and education and public outreach.
For more information, please visit the Laboratory website at www.ligo.caltech.edu/LA. 

Life at LIGO Livingston as a Caltech Employee
LIGO’s observatory in rural Livingston Parish, Louisiana, is an approximately 35-minute commute from Baton Rouge, LA., and is about 1 hour 20 minutes from New Orleans. Caltech employs a staff of 42 at the Livingston observatory. Caltech has an extraordinary science impact across many fields. Its small size creates a community where innovation and collaboration are the norm. Caltech manages the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for NASA, the leading US center for the robotic exploration of the Solar System. Caltech also operates large-scale research facilities such as the Palomar and Keck Observatories.
South Louisiana enjoys a friendly and unique blend of cultures, food, art, music and festivals—including Mardi Gras each spring. Baton Rouge, the State capital, hosts Louisiana State University. New Orleans, founded in 1718, is one of the most distinctive and well-known cities in the Americas, and is considered the birthplace of jazz. The region along the Mississippi River, which flows through both cities, includes a significant petrochemical industry base and several high-volume shipping ports. Area rivers, lakes and the Gulf of Mexico provide opportunities for recreation and fishing.

This is an Essential Reporting position. In the event of an emergency on campus, an employee designated as essential reporting has essential job skills that are needed for response and recovery and is expected to report to Campus as soon as possible.

Essential Job Duties

• Supervise and lead activities of staff who support detector-connected IT systems at LLO.
• Lead development of new detector-connected computer and network hardware configurations for both LIGO observatory sites. With LIGO staff at multiple sites:
• Procure new computer and network hardware for evaluation.
• Perform testing of new hardware, drivers, determine software and hardware configurations (BIOS, drivers, OS).
• Originate and maintain documentation on tested detector-connected computers, network installations and configuration.
• Procure detector-connected computers, network hardware, and related components of planned upgrades for both LIGO sites; plan and oversee their integration.
• Develop, maintain and document dedicated IT instrumentation test stand systems used by staff LIGO-wide for code development and testing of detector-connected IT. These test stands comprise networking, ADC/DAC cards, digital signal processing, GPS synchronization, plus relevant front-end and supervisory software. With group members:
• Administer and upgrade full-scale (complete mock detector) test rack for validating code changes.
• Administer and upgrade several smaller test stands to test new hardware, support detector engineer test stands.
• Lead installation, configuration, operation and maintenance of detector control and data acquisition systems at LLO. With group members:
• Provide 24/7 support of these critical systems during observation, commissioning.
• Plan and implement regular upgrades of software, hardware. Maintenance of sufficient spares to maximize uptime.
• Configure and maintain control room interfaces and equipment, plus other dedicated detector control interfaces.
• Test, modify and integrate software for auxiliary systems developed off-site.
• Create custom shell scripts, Python programs as needed to support operations.
• Devise, maintain and document system setup, emergency recovery procedures, etc.
• Develop and maintain certain critical non-detector computer systems across the site. With group members:
• Create custom EPICS I/O controllers to read out various devices.
• Includes Vacuum gauges, thermocouples, humidity sensors, AC power-monitoring.

Basic Qualifications

• M.S. degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related STEM field, plus five years of experience building or operating IT systems as part of a scientific or engineering project; or a B.S. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM field, plus 8 years of experience building or operating IT systems that are part of a scientific or engineering project. (some of this experience can be accrued during Ph.D. dissertation project work)
• Knowledge and extensive hands-on experience designing, operating and/or maintaining one or more of the following: real-time data acquisition systems, digital signal processors, complex high-availability automated instrumentation systems.
• Experience applying systems engineering techniques, including objectives, requirements and interface definition, validation, planning, design reviews, etc.
• Advanced knowledge and hands-on experience with system administration in the Linux environment, including scripting and security monitoring.
• Knowledge and extensive hands-on experience integrating and testing complex IT systems.
• Experience leading a group or team that develops and/or supports IT for a scientific or engineering project.
• Possess a valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in planning, procuring, integrating and maintaining the IT aspects of a large scientific instrumentation system, including networking.
• Experience in balancing operational stability with developmental flexibility.
• Experience of managing team 7/24 support for instrument-related IT.
• Experience in with version control, configuration management, and issue/fault tracking.
• Knowledge and experience with code debugging and development in the Linux environment, particularly real-time code and low-latency requirements.
• Knowledge and experience with electronic circuit design, debugging, and interfacing with digital control systems.
• Ph.D. in physics, computer science, or electrical engineering
• Experience carrying out government-sponsored research at a U.S. university, observatory, or national lab.
• Experience working within a geographically distributed project or collaboration that includes colleagues of diverse backgrounds, skills, and time zones.
• Excellent communication skills and habits, verbal and written.

 Required Documents

• Cover Letter briefly describing your interest in working at LIGO Lab and summarizing your relevant experience.
• Resume