Job Description

Your responsibilities:

Electronics Design Engineer for Particle Accelerators at CERN Join the Accelerator Systems Department (SY) and become part of the Radio Frequency (RF) Group, which is responsible for the acceleration and longitudinal control of particle beams in CERN's accelerator complex.

In this position, you will contribute to the renovation of the RF distribution systems for two experimental particle accelerators: CLEAR and AWAKE. The RF distribution systems are responsible for synchronizing all RF and time-critical subsystems across the accelerators and must deliver cutting-edge phase noise performance, high stability, and high reliability.

You will work on frequency division and multiplication techniques to generate signals spanning a wide frequency range—from 10 MHz to 12 GHz. Achieving these goals requires high attention to detail and carefully considered electronics design techniques.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Participating in RF measurement campaigns to characterize existing systems and producing detailed measurement reports.
• Contributing to the definition of a new RF distribution scheme, including evaluating off-the-shelf solutions and identifying modules to be custom-designed.
• Writing specifications for modules to be developed internally or externally.
• Designing, procuring, producing, and installing electronic and RF systems in the accelerator environment (including underground installations).
• Performing measurements and analysis to validate system performance.
• Creating and maintaining technical documentation.

Your profile:

Skills:

• Experience with instrumentation techniques using both standard and RF test equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, noise figure meters, power meters, etc.).
• Proficiency in the design, simulation, and implementation of electronic systems, including RF components (PLLs, DDS, frequency multipliers, mixers), with particular attention to low-noise techniques.
• Experience in PCB design with careful consideration for signal integrity and low-noise performance.
• Familiarity with scripting languages (e.g. Python) for test automation and data analysis is an asset.
• Basic knowledge of Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) principles and best practices.
• 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 Electronic or radiofrequency engineering (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: 24.10.2025 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-January-2026

This position involves:

• Work in Radiation Areas.
• Interventions in underground installations.
• A valid driving licence.

Job reference: SY-RF-LL-2025-159-GRAP

Field of work: Electrical or Electronics Engineering

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.