Recruiter

Institut Max Von Laue

Location

France

Job term

Permanent

Job hours

Full time

ENGINEER
Grenoble, Rhne-Alpes, France

The ILL is a fundamental research institute founded and financed by France, Germany and the United Kingdom. It is Europe's leading centre for research using neutrons and operates the brightest neutron source in the world, reliably delivering intense neutron beams to 40 unique scientific instruments. The Institute welcomes 1700 visiting scientists per year to carry out world-class research in solid-state physics, crystallography, soft matter, biology, chemistry and fundamental physics.

The Projects and Techniques Division, which is responsible for the development of the ILL's instruments and for technical support, currently has a vacancy for an:

ENGINEER
Fixed-term contract of 18 to 24 months

Duties:
You will join the ILL's Neutron Detector Service (SDN), which is responsible for the design of detectors and their associated electronics. You will report directly to the Head of the SDN.

Within the framework of the European project CRISP (Cluster of Research Infrastructures for Synergies in Physics - [contact details removed] ) and in collaboration with the future European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden, you will assist with the development of a new neutron detector using thin film converter technology in proportional counters. The aim of the project is to demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing a large-scale detector (several tens of m2) capable of operating in vacuum conditions. Studies have already been performed on several prototypes; the next step is to produce a demonstration model of 2m2 and to characterise its performance first of all on one of the SDN's two test beams and then on one of the ILL's time-of-flight diffractometers.

There are several technical aspects that remain to be studied and/or finalised, including:

* optimising detection efficiency

* choice of the amplification gas and gas circulation system

* specifications of the read-out electronics

* mechanical resistance in vacuum conditions, with minimal loss of useful surface area

* fast neutron and gamma ray background.


You will help to address these questions and any others that may arise in the course of the project; you will be responsible for setting up the demonstrator and for the characterisation studies. A transfer of technology to industry is being envisaged; you will participate in this process.

Qualifications and experience:
We are looking for candidates with a physics PhD in the area of radiation detection, or with an engineering degree in the electronics field (specialised engineering institutes, 2-year Master's or equivalent). You should have good knowledge of nuclear instrumentation and the processing of low-amplitude signals. You must be at ease with C and Matlab or their equivalents. Knowledge of thin film physics would be an advantage.

We are looking for someone with initiative capable of driving this programme forward. You must be creative and innovative, with a strong interest in instrumentation.

Language skills:
As an international research centre we are particularly keen to ensure that we attract applicants from outside France. The successful candidate must have a sound knowledge of English and be willing to learn French (a language course will be paid for by the ILL). Knowledge of German would be an advantage.

This is a fixed-term contract of 18 to 24 months.

Generous company benefits (expatriation allowance), relocation assistance and language courses may be offered.

Please submit your application before 26.08.2012 by clicking Apply Online (Vacancy reference: 12/12).

The ILL is committed to equal opportunities and diversity and encourages all men and women with the appropriate qualifications to apply.


engineer engineering science scientific research electricfal chemist biologist