Materials Engineer (TE-VSC-SCC-2025-31-GRAE)

Full-time

Job Description

The Vacuum, Surfaces and Coatings (VSC) group is responsible for the development, design, construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of CERN’s entire vacuum system. In this context, the group operates facilities for measuring vacuum performance, assessing material compatibility, and conducting surface technology processes, including thin film coating, surface finishing, and vacuum-related physical and chemical characterisation.

As an Applied Physicist / Materials Engineer in the Surface, Coatings, and Chemistry (SCC) section of the VSC group, you will be part of a small team developing a technical setup for laser treatment of the inner surfaces of copper-coated pipes installed in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) magnets. This laser treatment is designed to mitigate electron cloud effects.

In this role, you will operate a unique laser surface treatment setup for vacuum tube inner surfaces, finalise its development, and conduct tests to enable the implementation of this technology in selected LHC magnet assemblies.

Your responsibilities

• Operate and finalise the development of a laser-fibre system for the treatment of inner surfaces of vacuum beam pipes;
• Inspect processed vacuum components and coordinate material analyses within CERN’s laboratories;
• Operate the existing laser treatment setup to process vacuum components, demonstrating large-scale processing and particle mitigation techniques;
• Develop and upgrade system hardware, including the installation and commissioning of new optical and sensing components to enhance system reliability and processing quality;
• Define requirements for system control software upgrades in collaboration with the LabVIEW programming team and oversee functionality testing;
• Collaborate with mechanical technicians to discuss the design and functionality of required mechanical components before manufacturing;
• Define final installation and treatment procedures and ensure proper documentation.

Your profile

Skills

• Precision in operating Class 4 lasers safely within dedicated laboratories, with familiarity in optical alignment procedures for laser setups;
• Experience in setting up experimental test stages, including signal cabling and integration with data acquisition electronics;
• Proficiency in LabVIEW, with the ability to create basic program structures, understand existing complex programs, and operate them effectively;
• Expertise in vacuum systems, applying best practices for preparation, assembly, and maintenance;
• Knowledge of robotics and control systems, including their principles and practical applications;
• Understanding of surface and material analysis techniques, including relevant principles and methods;
• Fluency in English or French, with the willingness to learn the other language at CERN.

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 Physics or Materials Science/Engineering (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.

Additional Information

Job closing date: 19.03.2025 at 23:59 CET.

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

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Target start date: 01-June-2025

This position involves:

• Work in Radiation Areas;
• Interventions in underground installations;
• A valid driving licence;
• Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization;
• Operations on electrical installations or in their vicinity (over 1000 Volt AC or 1500 Volt DC) requiring a specific authorization;
• Exposure to electromagnetic fields under certain exposure conditions.

Given the occupational health risks associated with this position, the selected candidate must obtain medical clearance before a contract offer is confirmed.

Field of work: Applied Physics

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.