About the role
Installation Manager About xLightx Light is building the world's most powerful laser to revolutionize semiconductor lithography, metrology, and other critical applications. Our approach is to harness the power of free-electron lasers by building on accelerator technology currently used at scientific facilities around the world. In extending this technology, we are developing industrial-grade light sources, engineered for continuous operation to meet the sophisticated demands of next-generation patterning, metrology, and inspection applications. Join us in this new revolution! At xLight, we hire exceptional talent and exceptional means more than a strong résumé. How we achieve results is just as important as the results themselves, which is why attitude and character matter as much as technical skill. We believe great talent is widely distributed and not confined to a particular school or background. We seek individuals who demonstrate ownership, a spirit of collaboration, technical curiosity, and a genuine willingness to learn and grow - guided by our core values of Respect, Integrity, Creativity, and Engineering Excellence. We don't just hire what someone can do today; we hire for who they are and who they are becoming. What We Need — and Why It Matters The Installation Manager will own end-to-end installation of xLight's Free Electron Laser System, including Accelerator, FEL and Photon Systems. This will include from the time it hits to dock at the installation site through successful handover to the commissioning team. This person has been in the tunnel on projects like LCLS-II, APS Upgrade, NSLS-II, or FRIB, and knows what it takes to install SRF cryomodules, precision magnets, large vacuum systems, and beam instrumentation safely, on schedule, and to tolerance. Reporting to the SVP of Product Delivery, the Installation Manager will build xLight's installation team, establish work-planning processes, and serve as the primary interface between engineering, project management, survey/alignment, and on-site installation crews. This role is as much about process architecture as it is about hands-on technical leadership.
What You’ll Do:
Installation Planning & Work Control• Develop the master Installation Plan covering sequence, phasing, resource loading, tooling, and interface with civil/conventional facilities — analogous to LCLS-II or APS-U installation basis documents• Author and maintain Work Authorization Documents (WADs), Travelers, and Inspection & Test Plans (ITPs) for all installation activities• Drive the work-planning process: pre-job briefings, hold points, QA sign-offs, and post-job reviews.• Maintain the installation schedule in coordination with the project controls team; identify critical path risks and lead recovery planning• Manage the installation configuration baseline: as-installed records, deviation requests, and interface with the engineering change order (ECO) process Installation Familiarity• Must be familiar with the installation of cryomodule strings, including cleanroom-compliant field assembly, handling with custom tooling and transport carts, and integration with cryogenic distribution systems — experience with LCLS-II HE, FRIB, or similar SRF linacs strongly preferred• Develop processes for precision magnet installation: dipoles, quadrupoles, sextupoles, and correctors; coordinate fiducialization and pre-alignment with the survey/alignment team to meet specified tolerances (typically ±100 µm transverse)• Coordination of the installation of beam instrumentation: BPMs, profile monitors, Faraday cups, beam loss monitors — ensuring cable routing, grounding, and accessibility for maintenance Workforce & Contractor Management• Build and manage xLight's installation workforce: a mix of direct-hire technicians and specialty subcontractors (millwrights, riggers, electricians, pipe fitters)• Conduct installer qualification and training — including cleanroom protocols, radiation work, high-voltage awareness, and cryogenic hazard awareness• Enforce xLight's construction and lab safety standards in the tunnel and gallery; partner with the ES&H team on radiation work permits, LOTO, and confined space entry Commissioning Interface• Manage the transition from installation to operations: turnover documentation, as-built drawings, spare parts inventory, and maintenance access plans• Contribute to Lessons Learned capture and feed improvements back into installation procedures for future production units What We Are Looking For• 15+ years of hands-on accelerator installation experience, with at least one major greenfield accelerator project from installation start to beam operations — projects such as LCLS-II, APS Upgrade (APS-U), NSLS-II, FRIB, CEBAF upgrade, or comparable DOE/international facility strongly preferred• Deep technical fluency in at least three of: SRF cryomodule installation, precision magnet installation and alignment, large UHV system installation, undulator installation, or beam instrumentation installation• Demonstrated experience writing and executing formal work-control documents (WADs, Travelers, ITPs) at a DOE or equivalent high-rigor facility And If You Bring This — Even Better• Direct installation experience on a superconducting RF (SRF) linac: LCLS-II, FRIB, SNS, or an ILC/CLIC prototype facility• Experience managing undulator installation including magnetic measurement, phase shim optimization, and gap verification campaigns• Prior experience with commercial or industrial accelerator installations (medical, semiconductor, industrial) in addition to national lab work• PMP (Project Management Professional) or equivalent project management credential What You Can Expect from Us 100% Company-funded health insurance for employee Company funded Life Insurance and disability insurance 401k contribution. 100% up to 3% of compensation, plus 50% match between 3% and 5%. Immediately vested. Flexible Paid Time-Off, Sick leave and Company Holidays Company Paid Two-weeks Winter Break Flexible Hybrid Work ModelEEO Statementx Light Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is clear: there shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, or sexual orientation. We are an inclusive organization and actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. We welcome all applications from a wide range of candidates. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit alone.
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