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Manager, Scientific and Physical Infrastructure for SNOLAB
Faculty of Science
Department of Physics
This is a full-time position, starting with a one-year contract with the possibility of renewal.
Position Summary:
McGill University’s experimental particle physics group is seeking a Manager, Scientific and Physical Infrastructure to support and grow into a system‑level technical leadership role for infrastructure supporting the XLZD experiment, a next‑generation astroparticle physics project. The successful candidate will lead technical studies, contribute to requirements definition and interface management, and support the oversight of external engineering services, translating scientific objectives into robust, cost‑effective infrastructure solutions in collaboration with senior project leadership. This role is well suited to an engineer with approximately 5–7 years of experience who is ready to take the next step toward system‑level technical leadership; more experienced candidates with a strong interest in scientific infrastructure are also encouraged to apply.
We are an energetic and collaborative research group with members at all academic stages, working closely with engineers and physicists at national and international partner institutions. We consider diversity an asset and are actively working to increase it within our group through a diverse and qualified pool of applicants. While the pace and commercial incentives of industry differ from an academic research environment, this role offers something far rarer: the opportunity to push the limits of physics and to design, build, and deploy novel scientific infrastructure that has never existed before. Team members are encouraged to take ownership of complex problems, develop new technical approaches, and contribute directly to the realization of a cutting‑edge particle physics experiment.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Lead feasibility studies, options analyses, and formal trade studies.
Prepare value engineering and value‑for‑cost analyses.
Define and manage system requirements and technical specifications.
Evaluate technical risk, performance, cost, and schedule trade‑off studies.
Document decisions and maintain technical baselines.
Oversee and review (in some cases preparing) engineering designs and drawings, providing technical direction as required.
Provide technical oversight during assembly and testing.
Collect commercial quotations, perform market research, build budgets for project grants and produce written technical materials
Note: Some small amount of domestic/international travel required in the near-term. As the project progresses, trips to National labs or other universities to manage/monitor infrastructure deployments will likely be required.
Key Competencies and Skills:
Experience working in multi‑disciplinary project environments.
Experience interfacing between science, engineering, and facilities.
Collaborates effectively and contributes to productive discussions.
Excellent communication skills, with accurate record-keeping abilities.
Strong people management skills to keep a team organized.
Ability to host large group discussions, collect input, evaluate and make decisions on engineering related design issues.
Ability to work on multiple projects in parallel and to set priorities.
Ability to manage third-party engineering vendors and generate commercial scope documents.
Ability to analyze technical problems and produce value engineering studies.
Experience and Education:
Undergraduate degree in a related field (physics or engineering), or equivalent experience.
5–10+ years experience in complex technical or infrastructure projects.
Experience in technical leadership within large collaborative working teams.
Familiarity with the engineering design lifecycle (conceptual, preliminary, & final) with a strong understanding of how requirements and design specifications flow through all these stages.
Experience defining and verifying engineering requirements.
Additional Assets:
Experience in large international scientific collaborations
Proficiency in French.
Design experience, experience with cryogenics, structural and/or thermal simulations, or high-vacuum systems
Experience in FEA software in the domain of structural mechanics and thermal dynamics.
Experience in Pressure Vessel design and/or fabrication would be a strong asset.
As one of Montreal's Top Employers, here is what we offer:
Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance) (if eligible)
Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%) (if eligible)
Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
Competitive vacation policy
Two (2) personal days
Two (2) floating holidays
Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day
Paid time off over the December holiday period
Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents
Up to two (2) days of remote work per week where the position permits
Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.
Knowledge of English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level #4 (qualifier) on a scale of 0-4.
For a definition of our language proficiency levels, please click here.
Minimum Education and Experience:
Annual Salary:
Job Profile:
MPEX-LOG3C - Planning & Design - Senior Professional/ManagerHours per Week:
Supervisor:
Position End Date (If applicable):
Deadline to Apply:
McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected].
Skills Required
- Undergraduate degree in physics or engineering, or equivalent experience.
- 5-10+ years experience in complex technical or infrastructure projects.
- Experience in technical leadership within large collaborative working teams.
- Familiarity with the engineering design lifecycle (conceptual, preliminary, final).
- Experience defining and verifying engineering requirements.
- Experience working in multidisciplinary project environments and interfacing between science, engineering, and facilities.
- Excellent communication skills and accurate record-keeping.
- Strong people management skills and ability to keep a team organized.
- Ability to host large group discussions, evaluate input, and make engineering design decisions.
- Ability to manage third-party engineering vendors and generate commercial scope documents.
- Ability to analyze technical problems and produce value engineering/value-for-cost analyses.
- Experience in large international scientific collaborations.
- Proficiency in French.
- Design experience; experience with cryogenics, structural and/or thermal simulations, or high-vacuum systems.
- Experience with FEA software in structural mechanics and thermal dynamics.
- Experience in pressure vessel design and/or fabrication.
What We Do
McGill University is a public research university with extensive research activities across various engineering disciplines, including civil and materials engineering, focusing on areas like construction materials and advanced manufacturing.
