Technical Liaison for Scientific Computing (IT-TC-LCG-2025-62-LD)

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. Using the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments, they study the basic constituents of matter - fundamental particles that are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives physicists clues about how particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature. Find out more on http://home.cern.

Introduction

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world's largest and most respected centres for scientific research. Our mission is to answer fundamental questions about the universe while pushing “the frontiers of science and technology for the benefit of all”.

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Scientist or Computing Engineer to join our Technical Coordination group in the IT Department. The successful candidate will work in very close collaboration with the experiments at the Large Hadron Collider in co-designing, integrating and jointly operating innovative computing services and facilitate the adoption of novel solutions. In addition, the person will have an active role in engaging with other High Energy Physics experiments and other sciences to share experience and evolve scientific computing services and infrastructures in a common direction. 

Functions

In the IT Department Technical Coordination group, you will:

• Collaborate with Computing Engineers and Scientists to understand requirements and challenges of the LHC experiments in terms of distributed computing
• Analyse complex computing systems and co-design with the LHC experiments novel approaches to their challenges
• Implement computing solutions based on modern open-source technologies and integrate them with the LHC experiments stack
• Contribute to operating the WLCG and LHC experiment computing services. Explore and apply new techniques such as Artificial Intelligence in anomaly detection to improve automation and reliability.
• Engage with non-LHC experiments in High Energy Physics and other sciences to share experience and collaborate in designing and adopting a common distributed scientific computing infrastructure.
• Document and present findings to stakeholders and contribute to scientific publications. Contribute to the training of the next generation of engineers and scientists that will provide and/or use the WLCG infrastructure.

• Master's degree or PhD or equivalent relevant experience in the field of Physics, Software Engineering or Computer Science or a related field.

Experience:

The ideal candidate should possess:

• Experience in the design and implementation of large and distributed computing systems.
• A scientific background or a multi-year experience working with scientific communities will be a very strong asset.
• We require solid knowledge of Linux systems, shell and python programming and the capability to work in the dev-ops model.

Technical competencies:

• Capturing and analysis of requirements for ICT systems
• Architecture and design of ICT systems: knowledge of containerised deployment of services is an asset.
• Verification and optimisation of ICT architectures and designs
• Knowledge of programming techniques and languages: especially Linux, Python
• Identification and selection of relevant emerging ICT technologies: such as AI and ML

Behavioural competencies:

• Creating Vision and Strategic Partnerships: participating, encouraging and actively supporting cross-functional and cross-departmental work and projects Creating shared interests and promoting contact and collaboration with key external partners
• Working in Teams: gaining trust and collaboration from others Working well in groups and readily fitting into a team; participating fully and taking an active role in team activities
• Solving Problems: assimilating large quantities of information, identifying key issues and formulating conclusions clearly and concisely. Recognizing what is essential; discriminating between important and peripheral information and being able to see the whole picture
• Demonstrating Flexibility: adapting quickly and resourcefully to shifting priorities and requirements

Language skills:

Spoken and written English: ability to understand and speak the language in professional contexts. Ability to draw-up technical specifications and/or scientific reports and to make oral presentations. Willingness to learn French would be an advantage.

Eligibility and closing date:

Diversity has been an integral part of CERN's mission since its foundation and is an established value of the Organization. Employing a diverse workforce is central to our success. We welcome applications from all Member States and Associate Member States.

This vacancy will be filled as soon as possible, and applications should normally reach us no later than 05.05.2025

Employment Conditions

Contract type: Limited duration contract (5 years). Subject to certain conditions, holders of limited-duration contracts may apply for an indefinite position.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week

This position involves:

• Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization.

Job grade: 6-7

Job reference: IT-TC-LCG-2025-62-LD

Benchmark Job Title: Computing Engineer

Please make sure you have all the documents needed to hand as you start your application, as once it is submitted, you will not be able to upload any documents or edit your application further