Controls Engineer (EP-DT-FS-2025-267-GRAE)
CERN - The European Research Center of Particle Physics
Employment Type: Full-time
Your responsibilities
As a Control Engineer in the detector cooling team, you will play a key role in the installation and commissioning of critical CO2 detector cooling control systems for ATLAS and CMS Phase II upgrade. These systems are PLC based with deported input/output and connected to a centralised SCADA system. Field equipment are using refrigeration instrumentation and actuators following industrial standards. The team integrates multidisciplinary expertise such as mechanical engineers, fluidics experts and control engineers. You will have the opportunity to extend your knowledge about cooling and control systems within our section.
Key responsibilities:
- Participate in the deployment and commissioning of the CO2 detector cooling control systems, with a focus on the CO2 distribution manifolds distribution in the proximity of detectors present in ATLAS and CMS during LHC Long Shutdown 3 (LS3).
- Develop and program PLC and SCADA systems using the CERN UNICOS CPC 6 framework.
- Draft and validate functional analysis documents to guide system behaviour, and safety logic.
- Prepare test plans and documentation to ensure systems meet operational, and performance requirements.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across CERN to ensure seamless integration of control systems.
- Lead on-site commissioning activities and provide follow-up on system updates and interventions (FSUs).
- Update electrical schematics following commissioning results.
Your profile
Experience:
- Experience in electrical and control system design, including component selection and electrical schematics (E-plan knowledge is a plus).
- Initial experience in commissioning, with troubleshooting and fault-finding curiosity.
Skills:
- Knowledgeable in PLC programming.
- Ready to learn process instrumentation and low-temperature system requirement.
- Team-oriented and comfortable in international environments.
Desirable skills:
- Familiar with Schneider PLCs and the CERN UNICOS framework.
- Knowledgeable about Python programming.
- Experienced in PID tuning.
Language skills:
- Spoken and written English or French, with a commitment to learn the basics of the other language.
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 Electrical Engineering or Automation (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: 16.12.2025 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-January-2026
This position involves:
- Participation in a regular stand-by duty, including nights, Sundays and official holidays.
- Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays.
- Work in Radiation Areas.
- Interventions in underground installations.
- A valid driving licence.
Job reference: EP-DT-FS-2025-267-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.
