Job Description

Are you ready to work at the intersection of cutting-edge electronics and photonics technologies with the forefront of particle physics?

Join the Experimental Physics Department and contribute to our detector R&D programme for future High Energy Physics experiments at CERN.

One of the key challenges for the next generation of detectors is transporting vast volumes of data off-detector while operating in extreme radiation environments, for which advanced optical links are an essential technology. Within the High Speed Links Work Package, we are developing the next generation of radiation-tolerant communication building blocks by combining custom high-speed ASICs and Silicon Photonics components that interoperate with off-the-shelf optical modules and FPGA systems as we move from component prototypes to full system demonstrators.

We are looking for a Test Engineer to take a leading role in the evaluation and qualification of a prototype high-speed, radiation-tolerant communication ASIC, part of a Silicon Photonics system, delivering a 100 Gbps data stream. You will help bring up new hardware, build robust test setups, and generate high-quality measurement results that guide design iterations and qualification.

Your responsibilities:

• Define and execute electrical and functional test plans for ASIC prototypes (bring-up, debugging, characterisation).
• Develop FPGA firmware and Python tools for test automation, data acquisition, and data analysis.
• Design, review, or improve high-speed test hardware (PCBs, fixtures, cabling), including signal-integrity considerations.
• Plan and support radiation qualification campaigns, including Single Event Effects (SEE) and Total Ionising Dose (TID) experiments.

Your profile:

• Strong hands-on electronics lab skills (instrumentation, debugging, careful measurement practice).
• Experience in one or more of: FPGA development, Python (automation/DAQ/analysis), high-speed PCB design/simulation.
• A structured, rigorous approach to engineering work: test methodology, data quality, and clear documentation.

Skills:

• Hands-on electronics laboratory measurement skills (oscilloscope, SMU, signal generators; disciplined debugging).
• FPGA firmware development and simulation.
• Python for test automation, data acquisition, analysis, and reporting.
• High-speed PCB knowledge (signal-integrity basics, layout constraints, fixtures/cabling for reliable measurements).
• Clear technical documentation (test plans, procedures, review-ready reports).
• Collaborative, structured engineering approach (root-cause analysis, reproducible experiments).
• Radiation qualification experience (SEE and TID) is a plus.
• Familiarity with ASIC design is a plus.
• Knowledge of the Ethernet networking stack is a plus.
• 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 Electronics 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: 10.04.2026 at 23:59 CEST.

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-July-2026

This position involves:

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

Job reference: EP-ESE-ME-2026-64-GRAP

Field of work: Electrical or Electronics Engineering

Benchmark job: 200050 - Electronics Engineer

Global Benefits

• A monthly stipend between 6372-7004 Swiss Francs per month (tax free) depending on your degree.
• 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