XI
Diagnostics Mechanical Engineer
Accepting applicationsxLight Inc. · Palo Alto, CA
Full-Time Mid_senior RFaiateganlithography
Posted
1d ago
Category
Test
Experience
Mid_senior
Country
United States
Diagnostics Mechanical Engineer
About xLight
xLight is building the world's most powerful laser to revolutionize semiconductor lithography, metrology, and 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.
Opportunity
xLight is seeking a mid-career Mechanical Engineer to design and develop precision diagnostic hardware for the world’s most powerful lasers. In this role, you will work closely with scientists and engineers to create ultra-high vacuum compatible systems that manage beam-induced heat, precision in-vacuum motion, alignment, and wakefield suppression in demanding industrial environments.
You will own designs from concept through fabrication, installation, and first beam, collaborating across interdisciplinary teams including national labs and external vendors. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced startup environment and enjoys solving complex engineering challenges at the intersection of mechanical systems, particle accelerators, and advanced laser technology.
Key Responsibilities
• Design and integrate precision in-vacuum motion systems: actuators, stages, and probe mechanisms with sub-millimeter repeatability, controlled vibration, and fast-scan dynamics under realistic duty cycles.
• Own beam-induced thermal design: heat-load budgets on intercepting elements, conductive and radiative cooling paths, materials selection for combined thermal and RF function, and FEA under steady-state and pulsed conditions.
• Drive wakefield- and impedance-aware mechanical design in collaboration with RF and simulation engineers: transition geometries, RF trailers, shrouds, and cage structures that suppress trapped modes while remaining thermally conductive and vacuum-compatible.
• Design ultra-high vacuum hardware end-to-end: vacuum vessels, weldment design with attention to weld distortion control and mitigation, flange systems, bakeout-compatible assemblies, particle-free assembly protocols, leak and outgassing budgets.
• Develop mechanical requirements and engineering specification documents for diagnostic devices and their beamline integration.
• Author and own interface control documents between diagnostic devices and adjacent vacuum, magnet, RF, and survey systems.
• Lead mechanical reviews of vendor-supplied diagnostics: read drawings, flag interference and tolerance issues, iterate on geometry with vendors, and approve releases for fabrication.
• Coordinate installation, survey, and alignment planning with beamline integration and partner labs.
• Prototype, test, and validate mechanical designs, including vacuum bakeout, motion-stage characterization, thermal validation, and first-article inspection.
• Document design processes, test results, and as-built configurations to maintain comprehensive project records.
Required Qualifications
• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
• 4+ years of professional experience in mechanical design for particle accelerators, synchrotron beamlines, large-scale physics instrumentation, or comparable ultra-high vacuum systems.
• Demonstrated experience designing precision motion systems that operate inside vacuum: actuator selection, vacuum-compatible motor and cable choices, feedthroughs, vibration and repeatability budgets. In-vacuum motor integration strongly preferred.
• Thermal analysis experience for beam-induced or otherwise high-flux heat loads: FEA under both steady-state and pulsed conditions, conductive and radiative cooling-path design.
• Working understanding of wakefield and RF impedance considerations for intercepting devices: comfortable iterating geometry with RF engineers around trapped modes, transitions, and RF fingers.
• Demonstrated proficiency with UHV design practice: CF and KF flange systems, bakeout, materials selection, welding, leak-tightness, particle-free assembly protocols.
• Fluency with Siemens NX (or equivalent major 3D CAD package with willingness to transition to NX) and competence with GD&T.
Preffered Qualifications
• Direct accelerator-diagnostics experience in any device class.
• Interface control document authorship and vendor coordination at the scale of a major accelerator subsystem.
• Radiation-environment design experience: shielding layouts, rad-hard component selection.
• Survey and alignment background: laser tracker workflows, fiducial schemes, sub-100-um alignment campaigns.
• Familiarity with FEL, ERL, or high-average-current accelerator hardware.
• PID tuning and motion-control firmware exposure (working alongside, not necessarily owning, the controls side).
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$115,000-150,000/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.
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.
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About xLight
xLight is building the world's most powerful laser to revolutionize semiconductor lithography, metrology, and 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.
Opportunity
xLight is seeking a mid-career Mechanical Engineer to design and develop precision diagnostic hardware for the world’s most powerful lasers. In this role, you will work closely with scientists and engineers to create ultra-high vacuum compatible systems that manage beam-induced heat, precision in-vacuum motion, alignment, and wakefield suppression in demanding industrial environments.
You will own designs from concept through fabrication, installation, and first beam, collaborating across interdisciplinary teams including national labs and external vendors. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced startup environment and enjoys solving complex engineering challenges at the intersection of mechanical systems, particle accelerators, and advanced laser technology.
Key Responsibilities
• Design and integrate precision in-vacuum motion systems: actuators, stages, and probe mechanisms with sub-millimeter repeatability, controlled vibration, and fast-scan dynamics under realistic duty cycles.
• Own beam-induced thermal design: heat-load budgets on intercepting elements, conductive and radiative cooling paths, materials selection for combined thermal and RF function, and FEA under steady-state and pulsed conditions.
• Drive wakefield- and impedance-aware mechanical design in collaboration with RF and simulation engineers: transition geometries, RF trailers, shrouds, and cage structures that suppress trapped modes while remaining thermally conductive and vacuum-compatible.
• Design ultra-high vacuum hardware end-to-end: vacuum vessels, weldment design with attention to weld distortion control and mitigation, flange systems, bakeout-compatible assemblies, particle-free assembly protocols, leak and outgassing budgets.
• Develop mechanical requirements and engineering specification documents for diagnostic devices and their beamline integration.
• Author and own interface control documents between diagnostic devices and adjacent vacuum, magnet, RF, and survey systems.
• Lead mechanical reviews of vendor-supplied diagnostics: read drawings, flag interference and tolerance issues, iterate on geometry with vendors, and approve releases for fabrication.
• Coordinate installation, survey, and alignment planning with beamline integration and partner labs.
• Prototype, test, and validate mechanical designs, including vacuum bakeout, motion-stage characterization, thermal validation, and first-article inspection.
• Document design processes, test results, and as-built configurations to maintain comprehensive project records.
Required Qualifications
• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
• 4+ years of professional experience in mechanical design for particle accelerators, synchrotron beamlines, large-scale physics instrumentation, or comparable ultra-high vacuum systems.
• Demonstrated experience designing precision motion systems that operate inside vacuum: actuator selection, vacuum-compatible motor and cable choices, feedthroughs, vibration and repeatability budgets. In-vacuum motor integration strongly preferred.
• Thermal analysis experience for beam-induced or otherwise high-flux heat loads: FEA under both steady-state and pulsed conditions, conductive and radiative cooling-path design.
• Working understanding of wakefield and RF impedance considerations for intercepting devices: comfortable iterating geometry with RF engineers around trapped modes, transitions, and RF fingers.
• Demonstrated proficiency with UHV design practice: CF and KF flange systems, bakeout, materials selection, welding, leak-tightness, particle-free assembly protocols.
• Fluency with Siemens NX (or equivalent major 3D CAD package with willingness to transition to NX) and competence with GD&T.
Preffered Qualifications
• Direct accelerator-diagnostics experience in any device class.
• Interface control document authorship and vendor coordination at the scale of a major accelerator subsystem.
• Radiation-environment design experience: shielding layouts, rad-hard component selection.
• Survey and alignment background: laser tracker workflows, fiducial schemes, sub-100-um alignment campaigns.
• Familiarity with FEL, ERL, or high-average-current accelerator hardware.
• PID tuning and motion-control firmware exposure (working alongside, not necessarily owning, the controls side).
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$115,000-150,000/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.
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.
Show more Show less