Magnets and Insertion Device Engineer

Located on the Paris-Saclay plateau, about 20 kilometers from the capital, the SOLEIL synchrotron is one of France's leading research facilities. Since it began operating in 2008, it has served the national and international scientific communities. Research conducted at SOLEIL covers a wide range of scientific and industrial fields — including physics, biology, chemistry, materials science, environmental science, Earth sciences, and cultural and natural heritage — all connected to current societal challenges. Experiments carried out on the beamlines rely on the use of synchrotron light emitted by electrons accelerated to nearly the speed of light within a storage ring. SOLEIL is jointly supervised by the CNRS and the CEA and offers its staff a dynamic, innovative, multidisciplinary, and international working environment.

At the forefront of technology, SOLEIL II is an ambitious project designed to provide new opportunities for scientific and industrial research. SOLEIL II consists of a major upgrade of the existing infrastructure and aims to significantly improve the performance of electron accelerators and beamlines. It is designed to address major current and future societal challenges, particularly in areas such as advanced materials research, energy and sustainable development, health and well-being, and the environment.

Construction work on the SOLEIL II project began in 2024, marking the start of a phase of development and technological innovation. In parallel, the existing facility will remain operational until the fall of 2028. SOLEIL II is scheduled to start operations in 2030, with a gradual ramp-up phase continuing until 2035.

Context and mission

To remain competitive in a dynamic international environment and to develop scientific and technological solutions addressing major societal challenges, SOLEIL is carrying out a major upgrade of its accelerators and beamlines, known as SOLEIL II.

The storage ring will be equipped with over one thousand new magnets, some of which will be permanent magnets.

The Magnetism Engineer will work within the Magnetism and Insertions Group, responsible for accelerator magnets (linac, booster, transfer line, storage ring) and magnetic insertions (undulators and wigglers).

His or her role will primarily be focused on magnetic insertions and their operation in the storage ring, and is structured around three main areas:

1.  Design, construction, measurement, and optimization of various types of undulators (permanent magnet undulators with variable polarization, cryogenic planar undulators, etc.). As part of the construction of a SOLEIL II beamline, the successful candidate will be responsible for the magnetic design, mechanical design (in collaboration with the engineering office), construction, magnetic characterization, installation on the accelerator, and commissioning for users of an Apple‑X type variable polarization undulator.
2. Development of high‑precision measurement instrumentation for the various magnetic characterization benches currently in operation (Helmholtz coils, magnetometer, Hall probe, stretched wire, pulsed wire). Adaptation of the Hall probe measurement bench for a 5‑meter undulator. Development of a dedicated Hall probe measurement bench for the Apple‑X type undulator.
3. Contribution to the proper operation of the Group’s magnetic equipment:
4. The successful candidate will participate in on‑call duties aimed at minimizing downtime of magnetic equipment in operation on the facilities and will be required to intervene during troubleshooting and repairs.
5. During scheduled SOLEIL shutdowns, he or she will take part in the maintenance of insertion devices installed on the storage ring, as well as in the maintenance and development of the laboratory’s measurement systems.
6. He or she will carry out “machine” sessions dedicated to the operation of insertion devices (beam effects, first observation of radiation with the beamline, radiation characterization) to ensure final validation. For this purpose, he or she will be required to develop tools (scripts in Matlab or Python) enabling the control of insertion devices, as well as the recording and analysis of session data.

Profile

This position is open to candidates holding an engineering degree or a PhD.
The candidate must have demonstrated experience in the fields of insertion devices (from design through commissioning), magnetism, and synchrotron radiation.

The candidate must be able to work effectively as part of a team, both within the group and with SOLEIL’s partner teams (mechanical engineering, vacuum instrumentation, alignment, beam dynamics, beamlines, etc.). They will be expected to interact constructively with physicists, engineers, and technicians.

Working conditions

If you are looking for a position in an organization built on scientific excellence and technological innovation, SOLEIL offers you the opportunity to:

• Work in an innovative, multidisciplinary, and multicultural research laboratory
• Be at the heart of the Paris‑Saclay research and development ecosystem
• Collaborate with national and international experts across a wide range of scientific and technical fields
• Benefit from the proximity of Paris, located just 25 km away, and enjoy its cultural richness and dynamic lifestyle
• Undertake short business trips in France or abroad

SOLEIL offers the following working conditions:

• The position is offered on a permanent contract (CDI)
• The successful candidate will be required to perform on-call duties and occasionally work outside regular hours
• Workplace: Synchrotron SOLEIL
• Short business trips in France or abroad (manufacturing follow-up, conferences)
• The position allows for remote working (telework).

Benefits : 

• 26 days of paid vacation + up to 2 additional split days + 23 RTT (reduction of working time) days per full year of work, based on a 40-hour work week.
• Mandatory health insurance (basic plan) costs €19.35 per month for the employee (with an employer contribution of €174.15, corresponding to 90% of the premium), covering household members (spouse/partner + children).
• We also offer an optional supplementary health plan for €26.69 per month covering your household (spouse/partner + children).
• Access to a provident scheme that supplements the benefits of the mandatory French Social Security system, which are often insufficient. It compensates for loss of income in case of inability to work, ensuring the standard of living of the insured and their family in difficult circumstances: death, incapacity for work, or disability resulting from illness or accident.
• Possibility to open a Time Savings Account (CET) after one year of seniority.
• On-site corporate catering at SOLEIL, with subsidized meals.
• Family-related benefits depending on individual situations: family allowance supplement, additional days off under certain circumstances, marriage and birth bonuses, etc.
• Social and cultural activities offered by SOLEIL’s Social and Economic Committee (CSE).