Vacuum Equipment Engineer

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Job Summary

LIGO Laboratory (the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) seeks a highly motivated and skilled Vacuum Systems Engineer to join its team.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the world's most advanced scientific instruments, working alongside a team of world-class engineers and scientists to maintain and improve the LIGO Livingston Observatory's ultra-high vacuum systems. The work performed in this role is essential to the success of LIGO's mission: detecting gravitational waves and expanding humanity's understanding of the universe. The successful candidate will support critical infrastructure, enable advanced detector upgrades, and play a direct role in maintaining the vacuum environment that makes LIGO's discoveries possible.

This position is located in Livingston, Louisiana.

LIGO Laboratory is a National Science Foundation major facility dedicated to observing the newly discovered gravitational-wave universe. Jointly operated by the California Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the LIGO Laboratory operates world-leading observatories near Richland, WA and Baton Rouge, LA as well as R&D centers on the Caltech and MIT campuses. The LIGO Laboratory's mission spans a broad and vibrant array of activities related to gravitational-wave physics and astronomy, including detector operations, R&D toward detector improvements, gravitational-wave astrophysics, observatory operations, and education and public outreach.
For more information, please visit the Laboratory website: www.ligo.caltech.edu

This position supports the LIGO Livingston vacuum systems by maintaining and operating ultra-high vacuum (UHV) infrastructure, supporting detector improvement projects, and managing UHV-compatible component processing in the Vacuum Prep Warehouse. The successful candidate will be a key contributor to both daily vacuum operations and major detector upgrades, ensuring that LIGO's world-class sensitivity is maintained and improved. This role requires technical expertise in vacuum systems, cleanroom operations, and data acquisition, as well as the ability to collaborate across scientific, engineering, and operations teams.

Essential Job Duties

• Calibrate specialized instrumentation, monitor vacuum system performance, and conduct data analysis to detect anomalies and uphold system reliability.
• Oversee inventory management for solvents and site-wide chemical resources to facilitate maintenance and upgrade initiatives
• Oversee inventory management for solvents and site-wide chemical resources to facilitate maintenance and upgrade initiatives.
• Develop and implement vacuum-related strategies for detector enhancement projects, in collaboration with the Detector Improvement (DI) Project Manager and LIGO Chief Engineer.
• Deliver support for electrical feedthrough subsystems, including revisions to mechanical drawings, coordination with engineering teams, and participation in detector upgrade installations.
• Direct the UHV bake-out production process for components and subsystems, incorporating cleanliness validation via residual gas analysis (RGA).
• Utilize MATLAB to process RGA data and certify components for integration into detectors.
• Execute quality control and assurance protocols for vacuum-related components; propose enhancements to engineering and fabrication methodologies.
• Interface with LIGO vacuum group leadership, scientists, and engineers to solve complex contamination and vacuum system issues.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of production processes and procedures.
• Participate in professional development and technical training to expand vacuum engineering skills.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific/engineering field, or equivalent relevant technical knowledge and practical experience.
• Experience with large-scale ultra-high vacuum (UHV) systems or industrial vacuum facilities.
• Proficiency in building, operating, and maintaining UHV systems.
• Experience working in Class-100/ISO-5 cleanroom environments.
• Skilled in helium leak detection of UHV systems and components.
• Proficiency in interpreting RGA data and mass spectrometer use.
• Experience with quality assurance and quality control procedures.
• Ability to read and interpret 2D engineering drawings.
• Familiarity with SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD software.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, and ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline.
• Familiarity with vacuum-compatible materials, weld inspection, and machining processes.
• Experience with vacuum simulation tools (e.g., Molflow, Monte Carlo gas dynamics codes).
• Familiarity with ANSYS or similar finite element analysis (FEA) tools.
• Experience leading or organizing small engineering or operations teams.
• Prior experience working in a research environment or scientific facility.
• Experience with process optimization or clean production procedure development.

Required Documents

• Resume