Beamline Manager (SMIS) SOLEIL

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 May 2029. SOLEIL II is scheduled to start operations in 2030, with a gradual ramp-up phase continuing until 2035.

I.Context and mission

SMIS (Spectroscopy and Microscopy in the Infrared using Synchrotron ) beamline uses the edge and bending radiation from a bending magnet of the SOLEIL DBA lattice. The two sources, simultaneously used, provide light to two independent experimental rooms, each equipped with multiple infrared spectromicroscopy endstations providing diffraction limited and sub-diffraction limit spatial resolution. In addition to synchrotron-based experiments, SMIS offers complementary, off-line measurements, such as Raman microscopy, O-PTIR, FTIR Imaging, FTIR Müller polarimetry, FTIR spectromicroscopy, high-pressure experiments and nanoIR imaging and spectroscopy using thermal sources and lasers. The SMIS beamline reaches a diverse community of researchers, with specialties in biology, biomedical science, astrophysics, geology, environmental sciences, soft and condensed matter physics and chemistry.

A large variety of sample environments have been developed and are available featuring mechanical stress (single axis stretching for polymers, diamond anvil cells up to 100 GPa), temperature control from 4.2 to 1000 K, and microfluidic devices. The most recent beamline review document is available upon request. The upgrade of SMIS to the fourth-generation synchrotron source SOLEIL II is underway.

Position : Beamline Manager (SMIS) Mise à jour : 16/4/26 Référence: EXP-115B EXP

II. Responsibilities and tasks

The Beamline Responsible will lead and further develop the scientific, technical, and user-service activities of the SMIS beamline at SOLEIL. She/he will have to ensure the future operation of the SMIS beamline with SOLEIL II.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the beamline team, comprising two beamline scientists, one technician, and associated non-permanent scientists, within the Experimental Division and under the responsibility of the Scientific Director.
• Upgrading the beamline in the frame of the SOLEIL II upgrade plan project.
• Maintaining and developing the beamline’s capabilities, ensuring the highest standards of instrument performance, reliability, and user support.
• Developing an independent research programme, making full use of SMIS’s advanced instrumentation and capabilities.
• Strengthening the beamline’s scientific impact and user community by developing collaborations and outreach activities with French and international research communities.
• Expanding the scientific scope of the beamline, including the development of new research themes alongside its established activities.
• Ensuring compliance with SOLEIL regulations, including those governing user support, safety, and security.
• Expertise in biology, biomedical sciences, high-pressure science, or near-field physics will be considered as a significant advantage.

III.Profile

The successful candidate will have:

• Proven experience in a large-scale research/user facility, preferably in a synchrotron environment.
• Recognized expertise in synchrotron-based infrared spectroscopy and microscopy.
• A strong scientific track record, demonstrated through high-level publications and scientific achievements.
• Proven experience in instrument development and the ability to translate scientific needs into new or improved experimental capabilities.
• Strong leadership, management, teamwork, and project-management skills.
• The ability to build national and international collaborations and engage effectively with a diverse scientific user community.

IV.Working conditions

This is a fixed-term contract The position is based in Saint-Aubin (Essonne), at the SOLEIL Synchrotron.

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

• Work within an innovative, multidisciplinary, and multicultural research laboratory.
• Be at the heart of the research and development dynamics of the Paris-Saclay cluster.
• Collaborate with national and international experts across diverse scientific and technical fields.
• Take advantage of Paris being only 25 km away, offering rich cultural experiences and a vibrant lifestyle.
• Undertake short trips within France or Europe.

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 €20.35 per month for the employee (with an employer contribution of €203.53 corresponding to 90% of the premium), covering household members (spouse/partner + children).
• We also offer an optional supplementary health plan for €28.43 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.