Detector Control System Developer (EP-ADE-TK-2025-97-GRAP)

Job Description

Your responsibilities

The ATLAS Experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is building a new Inner Tracking system (ITk) for its next phase of research at the High-Luminosity LHC. To support this upgrade, we are looking for a motivated candidate with a background in software, control systems, or instrumentation to join the team developing the Detector Control System (DCS) based on CERN's SCADA standard WinCC OA.

We are looking for a Detector Control System Developer with solid technical skills, a collaborative mindset, and an interest in working on large-scale detector systems in a high-energy physics environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development of the future DCS system for the ATLAS ITk detector.
• Maintain and gradually update existing DCS instances used in ITk system tests.
• Develop the interface between DCS and the data acquisition system.
• Implement detailed monitoring of detector components.
• Contribute to the development of DCS online software, including a detector finite state machine.
• Perform architectural design and scaling studies for the final DCS system.
• Foster collaboration between the current Inner Detector DCS team, ITk sub-project DCS groups, and the central ATLAS DCS team for smooth integration.
• Participate in system testing campaigns when required.

Your profile

Skills:

• Hands-on experience with detector control systems.
• Profound knowledge in WinCC OA.
• Experience in the development and operation of OPC UA servers.
• Experience with common programming languages, like C++ and python.
• Experience in operating and testing of large-scale detector systems.
• Working well in multi-disciplinary teams and an international collaboration and presenting work to collaborators.
• 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.
• You have a professional background in Applied Physics (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: 09.07.2025 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-October-2025

This position involves:

• Work in Radiation Areas.
• Interventions in underground installations.
• Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization.

Job reference: EP-ADE-TK-2025-97-GRAP

Field of work: Applied Physics

What we offer

• A monthly stipend ranging between 6287 and 6911 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.

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