DESY

The European XFEL is currently the world's most powerful free-electron laser and has, over the past decade, significantly advanced the ability to resolve the structure of matter with X-rays. Growing interest in ultra-hard X-rays is now driving efforts to extend the facility's routine operating range into the sub-ångström regime, where photon energies of 25 keV and above are required. Access to such high-energy X-rays enables larger penetration depths and the investigation of materials under highly absorbing or extreme conditions. Achieving these capabilities is essential for the continued development of the European XFEL. The facility's unique strengths, its high-energy linac and long, variable-gap undulator systems, provide a solid foundation for generating intense X-rays at 25 keV and or pushing the performance frontier toward 30 keV. However, the FEL output critically depends on the quality of the electron bunches. Producing low-emittance beams through advanced spatial and temporal laser pulse shaping, together with accurate modelling of the underlying beam physics, is therefore a key prerequisite for fully exploiting the XFEL's potential. Dedicated numerical and experimental studies of the accelerator and FEL systems are needed to enable scientific opportunities at photon energies.

About your role:

• Work within one of DESY's leading groups operating the European XFEL and supporting a broad range of interdisciplinary user experiments as part of an international team of physicists and engineers
• Develop advanced concepts for numerical and experimental optimisation of electron bunch properties
• Take responsibility in some of the aspects of the ultra-hard X-ray program like optimisation of the high brightness electron beams, improvement of the beam transport or the undulator section
• Participate in experimental campaigns at the European XFEL

About you:

• PhD or equivalent experience in physics, engineering, or a related discipline is required
• Strong skills in numerical modeling and simulation
• Prior experience with particle accelerators and/or FELs is highly desirable
• Familiarity with machine learning techniques is a plus but not necessary
• Excellent command of English is required; proficiency in German is a plus
• High motivation, a pragmatic attitude, and a proactive approach to problem solving

Look forward to a unique working environment on our international research campus. Respectful cooperation and the well-being of our DESY employees are particularly important to us. Gender equality is an important aspect for us. To support work life balance we offer flexible working hours, variable part-time, job-sharing models and participation in mobile work (up to 50%). You will benefit from our family-friendly and collegial atmosphere, our established health management and occupational pension provision. As a public funded employer, we offer you a secure workplace and facilitate your individual career with our comprehensive training and development opportunities. Remuneration is according to the regulations of the TV-AVH. DESY offers its employees a financial supplement for a German job ticket (Deutschland-Ticket) at both locations.

We look forward to receiving your application via our application portal:Apply now DESY promotes the professional development of women and therefore strongly encourages women to apply for the position to be filled. In addition, severely handicapped persons with equal aptitude are given preferential consideration. The advertised positions are basically suitable for part-time employment.You can find further information here: https://www.desy.de/career/Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESYPersonalabteilung | Notkestraße 85 | 22607 HamburgPhone: +49 40 8998-3392

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.