Job Description
Your responsibilities
The SY-BI-BL section oversees the R&D on the development of longitudinal beam loss monitors (BLMs) designed to cover larger areas than conventional detectors. These optical BLMs are based on the detection of Cherenkov light in optical multi-mode pure silica fibres. Its first application will be to extend the beam loss monitoring capabilities in the CERN North Area secondary beam lines. The first phase of R&D is about to be finalised, where a combination of an optical fibre type coupled with photomultipliers has shown promising results. A prototype of such a detector is presently installed in the slow extraction of the SPS and is providing data for each cycle.
As we advance on the next phase of the Longitudinal BLM R&D project, we are seeking an Electronics Engineer with expertise in fast read-out systems and signal processing.
Your main tasks would be:
- Identifying and implementing acquisition and processing electronics that offer high-speed performance and advanced signal processing capabilities. This will facilitate real-time measurements for machine operators and enable detailed offline analysis.
- Selecting and implementing appropriate signal reconstruction algorithms to effectively combine and process signals from photomultipliers at both ends of the optical fiber.
- Deploying the final electronics and signal processing solutions at the three designated installation sites, located at the SPS's slow extraction line and the North Area's experimental zone. The development of this technology will significantly enhance the beam loss monitors system of the SPS slow extraction and future collider projects, where an optical BLM covering larger areas with fewer detectors could reduce the cost of the beam loss system.
Your profile
Skills:
- Experience with the design, simulation and characterisation of electronic systems.
- Experience with developing firmware and software targeting reprogrammable devices such as microcontrollers, FPGAs and SoCs.
- Experience with constructing and testing prototypes and final devices.
- Experience with designing control and data acquisition systems would be an advantage.
- Experience with performing precise measurements and data analysis would be an advantage.
- Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.
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 Electronics 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: 26.08.2025 at 23:59 CEST.
Contract duration: 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.
Working hours: 40 hours per week
Target start date: 01-November-2025
This position involves:
- Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays.
- Work in Radiation Areas.
- A valid driving licence.
Job reference: SY-BI-BL-2025-142-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.
