Quality Control Scientist (EP-ADE-TK-2025-98-GRAP)

Job Description

Your responsibilities

The ATLAS Experiment at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is advancing its inner tracking system (ITk) in preparation for the High-Luminosity LHC era. At the core of this upgrade lies a sophisticated hybrid pixel detector composed of over 8,000 silicon pixel modules. Approximately half of these modules form the Outer Barrel (OB) subsystem, with the CERN ATLAS group actively participating in its development and assembly.

A critical step in the assembly involves loading silicon detection modules onto lightweight local support structures. This process includes two main stages: first, gluing modules onto pyrolytic graphite tiles to create module cells, and second, integrating these cells onto mechanical supports to form loaded local supports (LLS). Ensuring the electrical and thermal integrity of these components through rigorous quality control (QC) testing is essential to guarantee the detector's final performance. The CERN ATLAS group plays a major role in these QC efforts, employing dedicated test setups developed for this purpose.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform quality control tests on loaded module cells and loaded local supports (LLS) to verify electrical and thermal performance.
• Operate, maintain, and optimise QC test setups and related software tools for DAQ, analysis, and database management.
• Analyse test data and update the production database with results.
• Collaborate with production teams to coordinate testing and share performance feedback.
• Monitor component performance and report testing status to the ATLAS community.
• Support system-level testing campaigns related to loaded local supports.

Your profile

Skills:

• Knowledge about silicon tracking detectors for high energy physics experiments.
• Experience in handling silicon detector modules and required lab equipment.
• Experience with common programming languages, like python.
• Knowledge of evaluation of data of silicon detector modules.
• Organised, accurate, and independent approach to work.
• Working well in multi-disciplinary teams and an international collaboration.
• Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• You have a professional background in Applied Physics, Experimental 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: 10.07.2025 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-September-2025

This position involves:

• Work in Radiation Areas.
• Residence in the immediate vicinity of the Organization's installations.
• Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization.

Job reference: EP-ADE-TK-2025-98-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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