Scientific Software Engineer C++/Python (EP-SFT-2024-133-GRAP)

Job Description

Your responsibilities

Are you a physicist or data scientist specialising in software development or a software engineer interested in data science and physics? Do you like to craft robust and performant software components at the heart of large scientific software stacks? Do you enjoy taking full advantage of multicore and heterogeneous platforms?

Join the ROOT team (https://root.cern) to become a core developer on ROOTs parallel algorithms, histogram classes and interfaces in the context of the CERN Experimental Physics Department R&D program (EP R&D), working at the heart of the LHC Run 3 data taking campaign, the preparation for the future High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) and beyond!

In particular, you will:

• Improve and optimize math-related functionality in ROOT like histograming or function minimizers for multicore CPUs and accelerators, such as GPUs.
• Ensure that the algorithms in ROOT can be used in an ergonomic way from both C++ and Python.
• Participate in modernizing the ROOT codebase as a whole in preparation for the next major ROOT release after ROOT 6.
• Work together with experts in the LHC experiments to prioritize your development efforts and put them in production.
• Take part in the baseline support, modernization and maintenance tasks of the project.

Your profile

Skills and/or knowledge

The following list (in order of priority) characterizes the ideal candidate:

• C++ (C++17 and onwards, STL data structures and algorithms)
• Parallel, heterogeneous programming: multithreading concepts and tools (e.g. TBB or CUDA)
• Statistical treatment of data distributions
• Python (software development with Python 3)
• Experience working on open source projects (e.g. knowing git and how to work on a large codebase in a team)
• Fluent in English

Optional, but considered a plus:

• ROOT
• HEP experiments, their data lifecycle and workflows (especially in the data quality monitoring)

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.

You have a professional background in STEM (or a related field) and have either:

a Master’s degree with 2 to 6 years of post-graduation professional experience;

or a PhD with no more than 3 years of post-graduation professional experience.

You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.

Additional Information

Job closing date: September 8 at 23:59 hrs CEST.

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

Target start date: 01-October-2024

What we offer

• A monthly stipend ranging between 6212 and 6828 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: 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.

We are on a Quest. A Journey into discovery like no other. Bring your expertise to our unique work and develop your knowledge and skills at pace. Join world-class subject matter experts on unique projects, in a Quest for greater knowledge and deeper understanding.

Begin your CERN Quest. Take Part!

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.