Technical Research Designer (Control Room Operator)

Job ID: 56456

Location: Tallahassee

Application Deadline: Open until filled

The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory’s DC Field Facility (DCFF) at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, Florida, is seeking a candidate to fill a Control Room/Plant Operator position in our DCFF Control Room, which is part of our multi-disciplinary Instrumentation and Operations team. The successful candidate will join a dynamic group of control room operators, technicians, engineers, and scientists in the operation and maintenance of the DC Field Facility’s plant and electrical infrastructure in support of scientific user magnet operations.

In particular, the Instrumentation Team of the DCFF maintains and operates several high-field, world-record resistive, superconducting and hybrid magnet systems, along with four 14 megawatt DC power supplies, an industrial scale cooling water system and cryogenics plant with high reliability and operational uptime. The Control Room Team supports water-cooled magnet operations approximately 42 weeks per year (21-hours/5-days/week) and via an on-call schedule during weekends, holidays, and other non-operations times. The Control Room Team also performs maintenance, calibration, and programming tasks to maintain and enhance our facility, participates in facility shutdown work for about 6-8 weeks per year, and actively participates in the implementation and improvement of our safety program.

The DC Field Facility serves a diverse group of scientific users in a rapidly expanding range of scientific applications and suite of technology and equipment. Hence, continued personal development, acquiring new skills, as well as constantly evaluating our existing systems, workflows and policies is part of the personnel’s daily work. Work in the Control Room, in the industrial plant, around high-power equipment is part of this job, as well as extensive training and adherence to industry safety practices and standards.

Tasks of the successful candidate include but are not limited to:

• Overview: Manage and operate facility equipment and systems in support of the NHMFL’s DCFF high magnetic field user program. Interact with and assist users, research faculty, technicians and other NHMFL staff on the operation and maintenance of the facility.
• Coordinate with the City of Tallahassee’s Electrical Distribution Control Room with regards to facility operations and power levels. Monitor and safely operate facility equipment and systems. Take the proper corrective actions in response to alarms or other indications of abnormal equipment operation. Maintain the Resistive Magnet Protection Systems.
• Provide training to users and staff on safe magnet operations, safe overhead crane operations and other safety procedures as necessary. Coordinate, prepare and issue Lock, Tag, Verify clearances for facility maintenance and repair in accordance with NHMFL safety policies and procedures. Work with other NHMFL personnel in the evaluation and development of safety policies and procedures. Exercise skilled independent judgement in handling facility operations as well as unexpected or emergency situations.
• Assist facility engineers, staff, and scientists with the development of preventative maintenance programs and procedures. Assist facility engineers and staff in tracking the performance and characteristics of the water-cooled magnets.

Candidates should have a background in mechanical, electrical, industrial, or chemical systems. A bachelor’s degree in engineering is preferred but not required, and alternative combinations of relevant (trades) education and experience will be considered. Knowledge and skills related to the operation, the maintenance, the troubleshooting, and the hands-on repair of industrial process equipment and the programming of equipment controls systems (i.e., familiarity with distributed controls systems, PLCs, etc.) are preferred. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are a must in this service-oriented role. Adherence to safety practices and policies and the willingness to support and enhance the high-level safety culture of the organization are required. This position encompasses shift work and on-call duties. 

Interested candidates should apply to Florida State University (FSU) job site at FSU Jobs and search  ID 56329 . For additional information, please contact Ms. Bettina Roberson, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, 1800 E. Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32310-2740, roberson@magnet.fsu.edu. Position is listed as Open Until Closed and applications are reviewed when received. The NHMFL is operated for the National Science Foundation by a collaboration of institutions comprising Florida State University, the University of Florida, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. FSU is an Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled & Veteran Employer. FSU's Equal Opportunity Statement can be viewed at: http://www.hr.fsu.edu/PDF/Publications/diversity/EEO_Statement.pdf

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