Engineer Associate Degree Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Position overview:

Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL), is a Department of Energy national scientific user facility. SSRL operates ~30 experimental stations (beam lines) that enable research in areas such as chemistry, catalysis, biology, medical, environmental, and materials sciences. Each beam line is tailored to specific techniques, spanning a specific x-ray energy range, to study materials from atomic to mm size level and over different time scales, necessitating a highly varied approach to instrumentation, sample environment and data acquisition. The beamline facilities are made available to an international scientific user community, with SSRL staff providing scientific and technical support in their use.

SSRL is seeking a Science and Engineering Associate to be part of a dynamic scientific research environment. In this position, you will provide technical support and operational oversight for the X-ray spectroscopy beam lines and associated experimental equipment. You will provide support for visiting scientific users as well as scientific and engineering staff. In this role you will contribute to day-to-day operations and continuous improvement of beamline electrical and electromechanical systems.

Your specific responsibilities include:

• Design, assemble, fabricate, test, troubleshoot, and maintain electronic and electro-mechanical systems.
• Fabricate and assemble mechanical systems, electronic enclosures, and fixtures based on 3D CAD models, technical drawings, or sketches.
• Design, build, label and install custom cable assemblies for specialized applications.
• Conduct electrical and mechanical repairs and implement preventive maintenance on equipment.
• Create and maintain schematics and wiring diagrams using ECAD software. Document operational and safety procedures in compliance with laboratory and industry standards.
• Collaborate with engineers, physicists, chemists, technicians and other teams to design, install, and modify various systems.

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• Associate degree or certificate of completion in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, related fields or three years of equivalent work experience in electronics and instrumentation or combination of education and relevant experience
• Experience with design, and development of prototypes, equipment, and/or systems related to area of specialization.
• Ability to write clear documentation, perform administrative duties, and research protocol maintenance related to research studies and/or scientific/engineering projects.
• Ability to work in a team environment as well as work unsupervised within strict procedural guidelines.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to communicate, liaise, and work with staff, students, faculty, and outside vendors.
• Ability to interpret and determine validity of data and verify own work.
• Solid understanding of Ohm’s law, simple digital and analog electrical circuits.
• Proficiency in using commercial test equipment for voltage, current, frequency, and other electrical measurements.
• Skilled use of hand tools, including electric drills, hole punches, saws, sanders, and other small power tools.
• Ability to provide guidance and coordinate with other team members effectively.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to discuss technical challenges with senior engineers, operators, technical support personnel, vendors, and other stakeholders in a diverse, multicultural environment.

In addition, preferred requirements include:

• Experience with 3-D printing using Markforged and Formlabs printers.
• Experience with microcontrollers (e.g. Microchip AVR ATmega and ATxmega), single board computers (e.g. Raspberry Pi 4 and 5) and PLCs (e.g. Galil RIO, CLICK).
• Experience with mechanical 3D CAD software (e.g. Solid Edge) and electronics CAD software (e.g. Easy EDA, Altium).
• Experience with multi-layer PCB design.
• Effective Decisions: Uses job knowledge and solid judgment to make quality decisions in a timely manner.
• Self-Development: Pursues a variety of venues and opportunities to continue learning and developing.
• Dependability: Can be counted on to deliver results with a sense of personal responsibility for expected outcomes.
• Initiative: Pursues work and interactions proactively with optimism, positive energy, and motivation to move things forward.
• Adaptability: Flexes as needed when change occurs, maintains an open outlook while adjusting and accommodating changes.
• Communication: Ensures effective information flow to various audiences and creates and delivers clear, appropriate written, spoken, presented messages.
• Relationships: Builds relationships to foster trust, collaboration, and a positive climate to achieve common goals.
• Customer Focus: Builds strong customer relationships and deliver customer centric solutions.
• Tech Savvy: Anticipates and adopts innovations in technology applications.
• Manage Complexity: Makes sense of complex, high quality and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Action Oriented: Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy and enthusiasm.

Physical requirements and working conditions:

• Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

Work standards:

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for environment, safety and security; communicates related concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.Meets the applicable roles and responsibilities as described in the ESH Manual, Chapter 1General Policy and Responsibilities: http://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/pdfs/ESHch01.pdf
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu
• As a national laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication.The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

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• Classification Title: Science and Engineering Associate 1
• Job code: 4991 Grade: I
• Duration: Regular continuing

The expected pay range for this position is $91,339 - $119,362 per annum

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory/Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At SLAC/Stanford, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package.

• Fixed Term N
• SLAC Business Area Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource Directorate (SSRL)
• Locations Menlo Park, CA, United States
• Job Schedule Full time
• Regular or Temporary Regular
• Job Category Research
• Posting Date 04/07/2026,