Job Description

The Physics Performance and Datasets (PPD) project of the CMS Experiment supports the preparation of data for physics analysis. The coordination area is organised into six activity areas, focusing on data monitoring, distribution, and bookkeeping.

To achieve its goals, PPD relies on a variety of workflows, applications, web services, databases, and libraries. These tools serve both specialised and general purposes, while sharing common technologies and infrastructure.

Working within this environment will give you exposure to advanced data operations, large-scale service availability, and complex workflows providing strong experience in DevOps practices at the frontier of science and technology.

Your responsibilities

You will:

• Operate, maintain, and improve multiple tools to ensure high service availability during data collection, monitoring, and analysis.
• Work closely with CMS scientists of varying technical backgrounds to support operations, assist with development, and help define new feature requirements.
• Collaborate with software, database, and IT experts to integrate tools in a sustainable way with community support.
• Help consolidate infrastructure, technologies, and documentation to simplify and streamline operations, maintenance, and migrations.
• Contribute to the technical design of new or upgraded tools and support their development and deployment as part of the technical support team.

Your profile

You have:

• Few years experience after completing your MSc degree;
• Strong programming skills;
• Excellent knowledge of database management and operation;
• Excellent knowledge of software management, continuous integration and deployment.

Skills:

• Proficiency in both Python and C++;
• Oracle Database knowledge;
• Knowledge of Machine Learning is considered a plus, but not a requirement;
• Knowledge of High Energy Physics is considered a plus, but not a requirement;
• Strong team collaboration skills and effective communication of work;
• 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 IT, Computer Science or 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: 14.11.2025 at 23:59 CET.

Contract duration: 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Job flexibility: Hybrid

Target start date: 01-January-2026

Job reference: EP-CMO-2025-186-GRAP

Field of work: Software Engineering and IT

Benchmark job: 200020 - Computing Engineer

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.