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Seeking a Technical Scientist or a Senior Technical Scientist (Indefinite-term) (25-3368)

Laboratory

Neutron Operation Unit,
Advanced Photonics Technical Support Division,
RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics
(Unit Leader: Koichiro Tanaka)

Research Field and Overview

Our unit is responsible for the safety management and facility operation of the RIKEN Accelerator-driven compact Neutron Systems (RANS), expanding the user base and promoting societal implementation, and enhancing the performance of equipment such as accelerators and detection systems. We also support research advancement through collaboration with teams and units conducting research utilizing RANS.

For more information about RANS, please visit following link:
RIKEN Accelerator-driven compact Neutron Systems

Job title and job description

Job title

Technical Scientist or Senior Technical Scientist: 1 position

Position-specific tasks are as follows:

Senior Technical Scientist
Assist Unit Leader; provide guidance to technicians and other personnel within the unit, autonomously develop and advance technologies needed to conduct research projects and other activities. Also be involved in developing, enhancing, and maintaining technic/technology required for the research.
Technical Scientist
Develop and advance technologies needed to conduct research projects and other activities in corresponding Division. Also be involved in developing, enhancing, and maintaining technic/technology required for the research.

*The position at the time of hiring will be determined through the selection process.

Job description

  • 1.Operation and safety management of accelerator neutron sources RANS-I, II, and III
  • 2.User reception, training, and user development for accelerator neutron sources RANS
  • 3.Advanced development of accelerator neutron sources RANS

In addition to performing the above duties for the assigned laboratory, perform various tasks within the assigned laboratory.

Qualifications

  • The applicant is required to possess a bachelor’s or higher degree, better to possess a doctoral degree in a related field.
  • The applicant is required to possess approximately five years of experience in safety management and operation at domestic accelerator facilities or radiation-generating facilities. Or possess equivalent experience. Experience in the development or maintenance of accelerators or ion sources is desirable.
  • The applicant who is willing to obtain the Class 1 Radiation Handling Supervisor (in Japanese only) certification within a few years of being employed.
  • The applicant is required to possess excellent skills to read, write and communicate in Japanese.

Work location

RIKEN Wako Campus
2-1 Hirosawa, Wako City, Saitama, Japan

RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary.
Potential sites of relocation: Any campus, branch, or office as ordered by RIKEN.

Salary and Benefits

This post is an indefinite-term employment position. Mandatory retirement age for FY 2025 and FY 2026 is 62 years old.

Note: RIKEN has been increasing the mandatory retirement age by one year every two years from FY 2023.

There is a Special Temporary Employment Program that allows employees to be rehired and continue working until age 65.
As an exception, depending on screening results, the successful candidate may be initially employed on a fixed-term employment contract up to a maximum of 5 years with the possibility of being promoted to indefinite-term employment after a separate review process that will take place, as a general rule, at the end of the first 3 years of employment. Remuneration and work conditions for fixed-term employment are based on the same conditions as those for indefinite-term employment.

Full time. This position falls under the specialized duties discretionary work system; one working day will be calculated as 7 hours and 30 minutes.

In principle, the first two months of employment is considered a trial period.

Salary will be an annual salary based on experience, ability, and performance, and will consist of a base salary and a variable salary. The variable salary will be determined each fiscal year based on experience, ability, and performance. Discretionary work, commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied. Bonuses or retirement benefits will not be paid.

The approximate amount of annual salary at the time of employment:
The total amount of monthly discretionary work allowance and monthly salary at the time of hiring will be 670,000 JPY or more for Senior Technical Scientist, 640,000 JPY or more for Technical Scientist.

RIKEN has a telecommuting system, but this position requires attendance at the work location. Therefore, the telecommuting system is not available for this position, in principle. For more information, please get in touch with the hiring staff at t-koba@riken.jp.

Days off include public holidays, New Year's holidays (Dec. 29 - Jan. 3), and RIKEN Foundation Day.
Paid leave includes annual paid leave (up to 20 days depending on the month of employment), special paid leave (childcare, family nursing care, etc.), and work-life balance holidays (up to 7 days depending on the month of employment).
There are also additional leave systems such as maternity leave, childcare leave, and family nursing care leave.
Smoking is entirely prohibited on site.
These and other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.

Mandatory membership in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai).

RIKEN may require changes of responsibilities, job category, and work place based on RIKEN regulations due to management decisions, budgetary situation, and organizational restructuring.

Other

  • *Eligible to apply for Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi).
  • * RIKEN is actively undertaking initiatives to promote gender equality and diversity, and moving forward with the establishment of a diverse and vibrant research environment. If multiple candidates are found to have the same aptitude following a fair assessment, active efforts will be made to recruit female candidates.
  • *The Wako Campus has an on-site daycare, RIKEN Kids Wako. For details, please send an email to kids@riken.jp.

Application and required documents

Application documents

All the application documents should be prepared in English. (Only letters of recommendation may be either in English or in Japanese)

How to apply

The above documents (items 1 to 7), except the letters of recommendation, should be combined into a single ZIP file and uploaded to the following link:

For Technical Scientist or Senior Technical Scientist position, Neutron Operation Unit, RAP, RIKEN

  • The file name of the ZIP should contain your contact email address.
  • After you upload the ZIP file, please let us (t-koba@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

About letters of recommendation

  • Letters of recommendation must be directly submitted from the referees to the following link with the subject line "Neutron Operation Unit, RAP, Technical Scientist or Senior Technical Scientist [applicant’s name] (Letters of recommendation)". Please specify the applicant's name, and the referee's name and contact information in the letter of recommendation.

    For Technical Scientist or Senior Technical Scientist position, Neutron Operation Unit, RAP, RIKEN

  • After the referees upload the letter of recommendation, please let us (t-koba@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.
  • If none of your current supervisors or academic advisors are able to prepare a letter of recommendation, a letter from a third person will be accepted.
  • There is no set format for the letters of recommendation, but they must meet the following conditions:
    they must be addressed to the President of RIKEN, Makoto Gonokami, and include the date of issue. Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address).

*If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: t-koba@riken.jp.

Note: None of the submitted documents will be returned.

Deadline

Noon, May 15, 2026 (Japan time).

Handling of personal information

Submitted documents are strictly protected under the RIKEN Personal Information Protection Regulations and will be used only for the purpose of applicant screening. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred or loaned to a third party under any circumstances without just cause.

Selection process

After application documents are screened, only the successful candidates will be asked to have an interview. The interview will be held on the afternoon of June 12, 2026.
There will be second, and final interviews with RIKEN executive directors as part of the hiring process.

Notification of hiring decision

The notification of hiring decision (conditional offer of employment) regarding this selection shall be carried out through the presentation of Statement of Working Conditions or a Conditional Offer of Employment issued by RIKEN.

Start of Employment

RIKEN expects that the successful candidate will be able to take up this position at the earliest opportunity after October 1, 2026.
Other conditions at the time of appointment will be negotiable.

Contact Information

Neutron Operation Unit, Advanced Photonics Technical Support Division,
RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics
Dr. Tomohiro Kobayashi
Email: t-koba@riken.jp

Note: No inquiries on the selection process and results will be answered.

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