Electrical Engineer – High Performance Systems

Location: Hybrid – Palo Alto, CA

(Travel to the Albany NanoTech Complex and partner accelerator facilities as needed)

About xLight

xLight is building the world's most powerful laser to revolutionize semiconductor lithography, metrology, and for other critical applications. Our approach harnesses the power of free-electron lasers, building on accelerator technology in use globally at scientific user facilities. Extending this technology, we are developing industrial-grade light sources, engineered for continuous operation, to meet the sophisticated demands of next-generation patterning, metrology, and inspection applications. Join us in this new revolution.

We hire exceptional talent — and exceptional means more than a strong résumé. How we achieve results is just as important as the results themselves, which is why attitude and character matter as much as technical skill. We believe great talent is widely distributed, not confined to a particular school or background. We seek individuals who demonstrate ownership, a spirit of collaboration, technical curiosity, and a genuine willingness to learn and grow — guided by our core values of Respect, Integrity, Creativity, and Engineering Excellence. We don't just hire for what someone can do today. We hire for who they are and who they are becoming.

What We Need — and Why It Matters

We are seeking an Electrical Engineer to design and implement high performance electronics for particle accelerator machine protection. You will develop electronics for reliable, low-latency fault detection and mitigation, interfacing with various subsystems such as beam instrumentation, injector, and RF to enable reliable operation of the FEL.

This role offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology in a hybrid environment based out of our Palo Alto, CA office.

What You'll Do

• Drive development of electrical systems for the machine protection system
• Interface with other accelerator subsystems such as beam instrumentation, RF, magnet power supplies, vacuum, cryogenics, and the personnel protection system to facilitate early fault detection
• Design a low-latency, FPGA-based fault aggregation and beam-permit system with deterministic response times and post-mortem event capture
• Develop protection logic and control electronics for different machine operating modes (masking, beam classes)
• Integrate with the EPICS-based control system and machine timing system
• Perform integration testing and troubleshooting of complex accelerator electrical subsystems
• Support installation, system checkout, and beam commissioning of MPS hardware in the field, including hands-on troubleshooting during accelerator operations
• Contribute to other high performance electronics across the machine (fast diagnostics, timing and synchronization) as the accelerator matures

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or similar
• 3+ years of professional electrical engineering experience, including hands-on FPGA development (VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog) and hardware bring-up
• Experience with high-speed digital PCB design and mixed-signal circuits
• Familiarity with particle accelerator systems, or comparable scientific instrumentation
• Proficiency with schematic capture / PCB CAD and circuit simulation tools (e.g., KiCAD, SPICE)
• Strong problem-solving and systems-level thinking skills

And If You Bring This — Even Better

• Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or Physics
• Experience with machine protection, fast interlock, or other safety- or availability-critical systems
• Experience at SLAC, Fermilab, Jefferson Lab, or comparable national laboratory accelerator projects
• High-reliability design practices: FMEA, redundancy, self-checking, radiation tolerance
• Experience with detector or beam instrumentation electronics and digital signal processing
• Familiarity with accelerator timing/event systems (e.g., MRF), MicroTCA/ATCA platforms, and high-speed serial links
• Knowledge of cryogenic control systems and superconducting RF technology
• Experience with EPICS, LLRF systems, and accelerator control architecture
• Python scripting for test automation and embedded software experience (C/C++)

What You Can Expect from Us

• 100% Company-funded health insurance for employee
• Company funded Life Insurance and disability insurance
• 401k contribution. 100% up to 3% of compensation, plus 50% match between 3% and 5%. Immediately vested.
• Flexible Paid Time-Off, Sick leave and Company Holidays
• Company Paid Two-weeks Winter Break
• Flexible Hybrid Work Model
• Chef prepared Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner at Palo Alto office

Pay transparency

The pay range for this position reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries at commencement of employment and is expected to be between USD 100,000/year-135,000/year. However, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including role, job-related knowledge, skills, relevant education and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including equity, and a full range of benefits. Details of all benefits will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

EEO Statement

xLight Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is clear: there shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, or sexual orientation. We are an inclusive organization and actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. We welcome all applications from a wide range of candidates. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit alone.