France
My present career at CERN combined with past experience at RAL has made me specialized with designs in electronics and controls for septa/kicker magnets systems for particle accelerator facilities. I consider having a horizontal integration in my current work environment realizing PLC systems, sophisticated electronic cards, software and (VHDL) coding for specialized electronic systems with a multitude of other skills that have been called upon during my career such as high voltage, pulsed power and system integration. Today I have become versatile and have worked on many different projects, upgrade and maintenance of beam transfer systems for CERN, the MedAustron medical accelerator in which I have designed a control system for injection and extraction electrostatic septum’s, I have worked on the new ISOLDE target modulator station, fully involved with the LIU (LHC Injector Upgrade) concerning the CERN Booster machine and the SPS. Due to a departmental restructuration at beginning 2021, I currently occupy a position of Electronic Engineer in the small team of SY-ABT-BTE (Beam Transfer Electronics)
As a member of the Electronics and Controls Section of the Accelerator Beam Transfer Group (ABT) at CERN: Participate in the development, the installation and the commissioning of the control systems for the BOOSTER, PS, SPS extraction channels (extraction kickers and extraction septa) and the LHC injection and tune kickers. Develop equipment level software and integrate it into the CERN accelerator control systems. Study, design, develop, install and commission specific analogue and digital electronic modules for the LHC, SPS and PS/BOOSTER beam transfer systems. Participate in the exploitation, maintenance, repair and upgrade of the installed equipment under the responsibility of the Electronics and Controls Section. Realise technical documentation for all projects. Management of craftsmen/technicians and engineers and piquet/support duties. In 2013, I was upgraded to a Senior Engineer career path and in 2017 promoted as Team Leader of the controls section in TE-ABT-EC
As a member of the FSU AB-12 in the framework of activities concerning the construction of the LHC facilities and transfer lines I participated in the design and development and the commissioning of the control systems (hardware and software) of the PS, SPS, LHC and CNGS beam obstacles under the AB/ATB group. I was responsible for the targets, injection beam absorbers, emergency beam absorbers, and beam dumps. I also designed the control system for the main target system for CNGS which included alignment table, target rotation, shield cap displacement, temperature measurement system and vacuum safety shutter system. Other tasks included specification, organisation and follow up of hardware and software projects subcontracted to industry. In general, to participate in new developments, upgrading and maintenance of application level software. Specialisation field in motorized displacement control (AC/DC and stepper motors), good general knowledge of analogue and digital electronics and familiarity with standard programming languages and knowledgeable towards processing platforms such as SCADA and PLC’s.
As a member of the Instrumentation Department of the Rutherford Laboratory working for the Detector Engineering Group (DEG), I have been involved in various aspects of detector electronics design. My line of work consisted of the design of a femtoampere readout system for quantum computing technology for the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, an optical fibre scintillator readout system for a muon scattering experiment for the TRIUMF laboratory in Canada, and a generic VME based discriminator module using FPGA technology for a wide-angle x-ray detector. Other accomplishment included the design of VME modules for controlling a CCD test system for the LCFI experiment at the Stanford Linear Accelerator in California, and I have also done R&D and test work for the Ecal Calorimeter System for CMS at CERN. In the general detector R&D programme mounted by DEG, I contributed to the design and production of novel Gas Microstrip Detectors assemblies using micro lithographic techniques.
From 1997 to 1999, I was employed as a Graduate Engineer and I carried out projects in several different departments. As part of my progression towards IEE corporate membership, I successfully completed an IEE accredited training scheme. This involved five placements within the first year within various departments and a full year of directed objective training with experience of working on major projects with increasing levels of responsibility. I designed a charge amplifier for a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) camera, investigated a Sterling cooler driver module for the ENVISAT satellite, created a terminal emulator software program used as part of the ISIS control system diagnostics, I also designed an RF tank field monitor, investigated high power RF technology and participated in the design of a linear accelerator RF cavity. To summarize my core skills, I had worked on many mixed analogue/digital designs, used CAD software extensively on all projects, worked in equal proportion on design as well as laboratory testing and have been involved in management and QA.
Troubleshooting and testing of a wide range of oil well instrumentation used for data logging. Commissioning and design of in-house test equipment and specialisation in digital acquisition systems.
Production and design of multi-chip modules (MCM) using a novel thick film process in a company named KONSERQ insode the Johnson Matthey company next to Reading. Extensive use of advanced multi tracking layout software specific to MCM design. Development and monitoring of clean room assembly processes, and product testing for reliability. Interfacing with customers and engineers/scientists. Mixture of R&D and production work.