Welcome
Hi, I'm Rob Rainer. I’m the Director of Controls & Electrical Engineering at XCT — Applied Materials (formerly Sigray, Inc.), where I lead the architecture, development, and deployment of control systems for advanced X-ray microscopy platforms. My background spans accelerator control systems, EPICS-based infrastructure, timing systems, and Python-driven applications, with a focus on reliability, scalability, and operational excellence.
I have extensive experience across national laboratory environments and industry, and I enjoy bridging hands-on engineering with system-level design, mentorship, and strategic technical leadership. I actively explore AI-assisted workflows to improve diagnostics, automation, and system performance.
Latest Articles
Occasional write-ups on controls engineering and cross-domain technical observations.
Highlighted Projects
- AI-Assisted Accelerator Timing System: Leveraged AI to modernize the timing system by designing and implementing Ethernet-based EPICS IOCs, eliminating reliance on deprecated 3100 CPUs and RTEMS. This upgrade improved reliability, enabled remote diagnostics, and enhanced system scalability.
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EPICS-Based Area Radiation Monitor (ARM) Modernization:
- Updated the EPICS device driver to accommodate new hardware, using AI to optimize the refactoring process.
- Modernized the way ARMs, which are a part of the Personnel Protection System (PPS), transmit data streams over the network through network hardware and configuration upgrades, improving reliability and scalability.
- SBM Top-Off Application: Enhanced machine efficiency by enabling uniform beam injection and implementing ML techniques for optimization.
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Server Virtualization for Accelerator Control Systems:
- Deployed and managed virtualized environments to optimize resource allocation and system redundancy.
- Integrated EPICS-based services into virtual machines to streamline deployment, enhance maintainability, and improve operational flexibility.
- Power Supply Controller (PSC) Controls Development: Designed and deployed EPICS IOCs for modular PSC systems, enhancing power supply control infrastructure at BNL and LBNL. This work includes developing, integrating, and supporting control systems for precise and reliable power regulation in accelerator environments.