About Us

Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron; a huge scientific facility designed to produce very intense beams of X-rays, infrared, and ultraviolet light. Our scientists use the light to study a vast range of subject matter, from new medicines and treatments for disease to innovative engineering and cutting-edge technology.

Diamond is one of the most advanced scientific facilities in the world, and its pioneering capabilities and talented staff are helping to keep the UK at the forefront of scientific research.

About the Data Acquisition Group

The Data Acquisition (DAQ) group develops software to interface with and control the hardware which allows experiments to be performed and monitored as well as guiding the end user to tools for data reduction and analysis. The group works closely with scientists, controls, data analysis and information management engineers to continuously develop and improve software solutions for scientific data acquisition and on-the-fly monitoring and data analysis.

The current DAQ software platform is a client-server application called GDA (Generic Data Acquisition) which is written in Java and uses the Eclipse RCP framework. To facilitate the advanced scientific capabilities that are expected from Diamond-II (the planned Synchrotron upgrade) the DAQ software is being modernised and will result in a service-based architecture. The new Acquisition Platform, Athena, will be configured to deliver advanced capabilities for a new collection of state of-the-art Flagship Beamlines. Over the next few years existing beamline software will be migrated from GDA to Athena.

About the Role

We now have an opportunity for a software engineer within the DAQ group team that supports and develops software for Diamond’s Magnetic Materials (MMG) and Structures & Surfaces (SS) science groups.

The work is primarily focused upon developing the DAQ software for the planned CSXID Diamond-II Flagship Beamline using the new Athena services under the technical supervision of the MMG & SS DAQ team leader and in collaboration with the DAQ Core team. This is a significant and high priority long-term programme of work, comprising early feature prototyping and refinement, productionisation, integration and testing. Once CSXID starts to accept users you will provide ongoing support and extension of the DAQ capabilities. You will also be required to work with your teammates to provide support to the existing MMG & SS beamlines and assist with their migration from GDA to Athena.

As a software engineer in the DAQ Group you will work alongside other software engineers supporting a range of experimental techniques and developing DAQ capabilities in an open and collaborative environment. You will be required to interact with scientists and translate their specifications for scientific capabilities into software requirements.

You will liaise with controls, data analysis and information management engineers to put these requirements into action. You will collaborate with the beamline scientists and DAQ Core team members to deliver CSXID’s DAQ features using the new Athena services and provide insight to the Core team to help them to refine Athena’s generic capabilities.  You will also potentially participate in international collaborations within this domain, sharing best practice and supporting other facilities and synchrotrons within the collaboration.

About You

You will be qualified to degree level in a STEM subject, with experience in the full Software Development Lifecycle, using a modern high-level language, and with an understanding of good software design principles and design for usability. Knowledge and experience of developing software to control and monitor scientific or industrial equipment or IoT is preferable.

Experience of working with large and complex code bases would be a distinct advantage, as would experience of Python, Java, Spring, JMS message-oriented middleware, Java RMI, the HDF5 file format, the Eclipse RCP platform, REST and Kubernetes.

You should display good communication, interpersonal and analytical skills, with a personal interest or experience in science.

Benefits

Diamond offers an exceptional benefits package to support staff in achieving a positive work/life balance. This includes 25 days annual leave plus 13 days of statutory and company holidays, along with flexible working hours and an excellent pension scheme. Staff also have access to a range of amenities on site including a nursery, cafes, a restaurant and sports and leisure facilities.

To Apply

Please use the online application process to apply and tell us why you believe you are suitable for this role.