Job Description

Your responsibilities:

As a Mechanical Technician in the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) Vacuum Team, you will play an important role in ensuring the quality, installation, and operation of vacuum components in CERN's accelerator complex.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Carrying out the mechanical assembly of vacuum components and sub-assemblies, including leak detection and quality control prior to installation.
• Taking part in the installation of vacuum components in the SPS tunnel, including pumpdown, leak detection, and commissioning activities.
• Supporting the organisation of logistics and procurement for vacuum chambers and related equipment.
• Documenting acceptance tests and interventions to ensure accurate traceability and reporting.

More information here: https://te-dep.web.cern.ch/vacuum-surfaces-and-coatings-vsc

Your profile:

Skills:

Essential skills:

• Knowledge of mechanical assembly and design principles.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings.
• Practical experience in the maintenance of mechanical equipment.
• Basic computer skills for documenting and reporting.
• Good communication skills and ability to work effectively in a team.

Desirable skills:

• Previous knowledge of vacuum technology (e.g. leak detection, pressure measurement).
• 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.
• By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Mechanical or Electromechanical Technology (or a related field) and your highest educational qualification is a general secondary education diploma.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
• Applicants with a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree are not eligible.

Additional Information

Job closing date: republished until 10.02.2026 .

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

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Target start date: 01-April-2026

This position involves:

• Work in Radiation Areas.
• Interventions in underground installations.
• A valid driving licence.
• Exposure to electromagnetic fields under certain exposure conditions.

Given the occupational health risks associated with this position, the selected candidate must obtain medical clearance before a contract offer is confirmed.

Job reference: TE-VSC-IVO-2025-192-GRAE

Field of work: Mechanical Engineering

Global Benefits

• A monthly stipend of 4687 Swiss Francs per month (tax free).
• 30 days of paid leave per year plus 2 weeks annual closure.
• Coverage by CERN’s comprehensive health insurance scheme (for yourself, your spouse and children), and membership of the CERN Pension Fund.
• Family, child and infant monthly allowances depending on your individual circumstances.
• A relocation package (installation grant and travel expenses) depending on your individual circumstances.
• Possibility to extend your contract up to 36 months.
• On-the-job and formal training including language classes.

Overview of CERN - Discover a world where the impossible is made possible!

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, we are pushing the frontiers of science and technology. Our groundbreaking work brings together not only physicists but also a diverse range of professionals from engineering, technical, scientific, and administrative fields. Together, we foster an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive.

Every day, we face exciting new challenges and opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge research that shapes our understanding of the universe. We meet these challenges through the diverse perspectives within our teams, ensuring every contribution is valued and driving our shared sense of inclusion and purpose. Diversity is a core value of CERN since its foundation, and it remains central to our mission and continued success.

If you are ready to be part of a dynamic, inclusive community pushing the boundaries of knowledge, CERN is the place where your curiosity and skills can thrive. Be part of our mission to uncover what lies at the heart of the universe! TAKE PART!

More information about us, here: careers.cern