We invite applications to an open position for a full-time Laser Optical Engineer at the Extreme Light Laboratory (ELL) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The laboratory is located on the UNL City Campus in downtown Lincoln, NE. It houses several high-intensity femtosecond-duration laser systems, including one capable of producing peak power up to a petawatt. ELL lasers are distinguished by their exceptional laser beam quality, stability, and parameter control, enabling a wide range of laser-science research, with applications in cutting-edge research in physics, medicine, security, and defense. ELL is also one of ten host institutions of a national network of high-power lasers, LaserNetUS.
Responsible for the reliable day-to-day operation of a state-of-the-art high-power (100-1,000 terawatt) solid-state laser system. Daily tasks include start-up/shut-down, alignment, diagnostics, troubleshooting, and maintenance. Responsibilities include detailed daily documentation of all work conducted on the laser system, documentation of procedure changes and improvements, regular group presentations, inventory management, coordination with the administrative coordinator to make purchases for the laser system, coordination with drafting mechanical drawings of laser components. Responsibility for laser-related projects. Ensure compliance with, and monitoring of, all laser safety procedures. Occasional nights and weekends required.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Optics, Engineering, Physics or related field preferred. Two or more years of experience with hands-on operation and maintenance of solid-state laser, optics, and Ti:Sapphire pump lasers. This includes adjustments and improvements of beam profiles, collimation, and pre-defined parameters relating to energy, pulse duration, contrast, and Strehl ratio. Skill in communicating, organizing, scheduling, and reporting.
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree in photonics, physics, optics, or engineering.
More than 5 years of hands-on experience operating advanced laser diagnostic and control tools such as third-order autocorrelators, ultra-fast pulse shapers, and adaptive optics.
About Extreme Light Laboratory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The Extreme Light laboratoratory is housed at The University of Nebraska-Lincoln. We are pioneers in the science, technology, and applications of high-intensity laser light. Our team includes research scientists, postdocs, graduate students, undergraduates, and technicians. We are experts in petawatt-power and femtosecond-duration lasers, the science of highly relativistic laser-matter interactions, compact laser-driven accelerators, laser-driven x-ray light sources, and their applications for security, defense, and industry. Research at ELL has been featured in various high-profile journals, including Physical Review Letters and Nature Photonics. As a host institution of the national laser network LaserNetUS, we have the opportunity to collaborate with scientists from other institutions worldwide.
Our 8,000-sq.-ft. research facility occupies three floors of the Behlen Lab building on the UNL city campus. The laboratories meet stringent requirements on temperature (<±1 C), humidity (< 5%), and vibration control, made possible by separate designated electrical, processed-chilled-water, and air-handling systems. The facility was built and has been directed over the past 15 years ...by Prof. Donald Umstadter.
Benefits of Working at University of Nebraska-Lincoln:
The University of Nebraska offers an extensive benefits package that includes health, life, disability and long term care insurance; retirement accounts; tuition remission for employees and their spouses and dependent children; and reimbursement accounts for health care and dependent day care. Leave policies are designed to help employees deal with personal or family events or crises. Please refer to the University of Nebraska Benefits site for information.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees’ differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse populations we serve. The university fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential. As an EO/AA employer, qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See: http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.
