Fibre Optics Sensor Engineer (EN-EL-FO-2025-166-GRAE)

Your responsibilities

You will join the Engineering Department (EN), which pushes back the limits of technology so that physicists can carry out their research. Specifically, you will join the Electrical Engineer Group.

Our Fibre Optics section is looking for a motivated engineer/physicist to join the team, which is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Distributed Optical Fibre Radiation Sensor (DOFRS) systems at CERN.

You will be involved in the operation, maintenance, installation, qualification and calibration of this advanced radiation monitoring system.

Main activities:

• Carry out regular maintenance of both passive and active elements of the DOFRS systems.
• Supervise the correct operation of the systems during periods of data acquisition.
• Provide support for the installation of DOFRS systems across CERN facilities.
• Perform irradiation tests aiming at qualifying and calibrating of the radiation sensitive optical fibres used in the DOFRS.
• Prepare and follow-up the manufacturing of DOFRS sensing cables.
• Ensure complete and accurate documentation of the DOFRS-related activities and materials.
• Provide support to the development activities aimed at improving the monitoring of the DOFRS systems in operation and extending their sensing capabilities.

Close collaboration with the Systems Department (SY), specifically the Monitoring and Calculation Working Group (MCWG) at CERN:

• Act as an interface during CERN operational periods to ensure continuous and reliable system performance.
• Verify the quality of measurements provided by the DOFRS systems.
• Assist the MCWG in its activities within its radiation monitoring mandate.

Your profile

Skills:

• Knowledge or experience in optics and/or fibre optics.
• Interest in sensors, radiation sensing and innovative instrumentation would be beneficial.
• Strong practical skills and interest in hands-on field work and laboratory tasks.
• Strong interest and proficiency in developing scripts/software tools, particularly using languages such as Python. Experience with additional programming languages such as LabVIEW is advantageous.
• Detail-oriented and capable of maintaining thorough technical documentation.
• Good communication skills and a collaborative mindset.
• Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Optics, Electronics, Physics (or a related field) and your highest educational qualification is either a Bachelor's or Master's degree.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
• Applicants without University degree are not eligible.
• Applicants with a PhD are not eligible.

Job closing date: 22.09.2025 at 23:59 CEST.

Contract duration: 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Target start date: 01-October-2025 / 01-November-2025

This position involves:

• Work in Radiation Areas.
• Interventions in underground installations.
• A valid driving licence.

Job reference: EN-EL-FO-2025-166-GRAE

Field of work: Electrical or Electronics Engineering

What we offer

• A monthly stipend ranging between 5196 and 5716 Swiss Francs (net of tax).
• Coverage by CERN's comprehensive health scheme (for yourself, your spouse and children), and membership of the CERN Pension Fund.
• Depending on your individual circumstances: installation grant; family, child and infant allowances; payment of travel expenses at the beginning and end of contract.
• 30 days of paid leave per year.
• On-the-job and formal training at CERN as well as in-house language courses for English and/or French.

About us

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.

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.