Computing Fellowship: Software Engineer

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.

The LHC and the other CERN accelerators are composed of thousands of magnets, accelerating RF cavities, beam measurement instruments and much more equipment, which function in a sophisticated, well-coordinated fashion to produce, accelerate and deliver the high energy particle beam to the big physics experiments.

From a computing point of view, this is a huge and complex distributed system requiring a multitude of low- and high-level software components and frameworks for the development, commissioning and operation of CERN’s accelerator complex.

You will join a team of highly qualified and professional software engineers who develop the core software and frameworks underlying this technical marvel. Our responsibilities include operational, low-level applications, diagnostics and supervision tools for machine protection as well as a global data storage and analysis system for the LHC and its injection chain. In this context, you will be able to gain insights into modern software development practices and tools as well as acquire a good overview of state-of-the-art accelerator equipment and controls software infrastructures.

As a member of the team, you will work on one or more of the following:

• Participate in the commissioning and first operation of low-level and supervisory software layers and expert tools for the LHC quench detection system (Technologies: Java, Python, C++);
• Take a leading role in the design, implementation and deployment of additional improvements and consolidation of the software stack, with the purpose of increasing its resilience, monitoring and diagnostics, and easing its maintenance effort over the long term. (Technologies: Java, Spring);
• Optimization of interfaces between the hardware devices in the field, front-ends, the high-level tools and the data Logging services, as well as the provision of diagnostics better adapted to the evolving needs of system experts and operation crews. (Technologies: Java, C++).

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State;
• You have graduated, or are about to graduate, with a university degree (BSc or MSc level in computer science,engineering or another relevant course) and have no more than 4 years’ relevant experience after obtaining your degree;
• Kindly note that experience prior to the latest obtained degree will not be taken into account for the calculation of your overall years of experience.

Essential skills and experience:

• Proficiency in programming full stack Java;
• Exposure to working in a lean/agile environment;
• Exposure to working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team.

Desired technical skills:

• Experience with Java, Spring, C++11 and/or Python 3.6 (or later);
• Experience modernizing legacy software systems;
• Familiarity with DevOps best practices and tools.

Please note that CERN Staff members are not eligible to apply for a Fellowship.

CERN would very much like to benefit from your expertise, commitment and passion.

In return, CERN will provide you with:

• An employment contract for between six months (minimum) up to a maximum of 36 months.
• A stipend ranging from 5,281 to 6,558 Swiss Francs per month (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: an installation grant, family, child and infant allowances as well as travel expenses to and from Geneva.
• 2.5 days of paid leave per month.

Your Life @CERN

Find out more here: https://hr-dep.web.cern.ch/content/life-cern

This is how you can apply:

You will need the following documents to complete your application:

• A CV.
• A scanned PDF of your most recent relevant qualification.

We recommend to add two recent letters of recommendation, giving an overview of your academic and/or professional achievements. You can upload these letters at the time of application if you have them to hand. You will also be provided with a link as soon as you have submitted your application to forward to your referees to upload their letters confidentially. Please note this must be done before the closing date.

All applications should reach us no later than 2 August 2020.