Job Description

Your responsibilities

Have you ever wanted to be involved in irradiation experiments for qualifying detector prototypes, materials and electronics to be installed in the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC), its experiments or future particle accelerator projects? IRRAD and GIF++ are our two irradiation facilities to qualify components and systems to be used in harsh radiation environments. If you relish a challenge, join the Detector Development section (DD) of the Detector Technology Group (DT) and realize your potential. Take part!

The Detector Technology Group (DT) within the Experimental Physics Department (EP), responsible for providing expertise and services in various fields of detector technologies, is looking for a motivated Mechanical Technician to join our team. In this role, you will have the unique opportunity to work on the operation of the CERN detector test facilities IRRAD (CERN proton IRRADiation facility) and GIF++ (CERN Cs-137 Gamma Irradiation Facility) taking a critical role in providing electro/mechanical support to the CERN community in the field of radiation testing, qualification as well as dosimetry and radiation monitoring.

Specifically, you will:

• Actively participate in the operation and maintenance of the IRRAD and GIF++ irradiation facilities equipment and setups, including the associated laboratory infrastructure.
• Contribute to the design, manufacturing and testing of setups for detector irradiation tests, including preparation of mechanical drawings, electro/mechanical systems and interaction with commercial suppliers to fabricate equipment.
• Support senior staff during experiments installation and tests execution, as well as in the reporting of results.
• Support users at the two facilities throughout the whole process, from planning to execution, as well as contribute to the execution of the dosimetry measurements required for the follow-up of the irradiation experiments.
• Technically support research and development for new particle beam measurement technologies and detectors (for intensity and/or profiling) designed for high-energy proton beams and gamma-rays environment.
• Contribute to managing the EU-funded EURO-LABS Transnational Access program for the two EP-DT irradiation facilities.

Your profile

Skills

• Knowledge about mechanical assembly
• • Ability to use schematics and assembly drawings
• • Ability to use machine (including CNC) and CAD tools
• • Ability to Write Clear, Concise Technical Reports (using office tools)
• • Electronics Testing, PCB Assembly and Soldering is an asset
• • Basic of programming (Phyton, etc.) and automation is an asset
• • Enthusiasm for learning and a collaborative approach to problem-solving
• • Attention to detail
• • Working knowledge of English. The ability to work in (or willingness to learn) French is an advantage.
• Fluent in English, the ability to work in French would be an advantage.

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 Mechanics / Electro-mechanics (or a related field) and your highest educational qualification is a general secondary education diploma.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree are not eligible.

Additional Information

Job closing date: 25 March at 23:59 AM CET.

Contract duration: 12 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Target start date: 01-July-2025

This position involves:

• Participation in a regular stand-by duty, including nights, Sundays and official holidays.
• Work in Radiation Areas.
• A valid driving licence.
• Exposure to lead.
• Exposure to ionizing radiation and classified as category A.
• Use of certain mobile work equipment or equipment used for lifting loads (lifting equipment, bridge cranes, aerial work platforms, etc.) requiring a driving authorization.

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

Job reference: EP-DT-DD-2025-35-GRAE

Field of work: Applied Physics

What we offer

• A monthly stipend of 4624 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.