Job Description

Are you passionate about cutting-edge fabrication? Do you thrive at the intersection of high-precision machining and advanced joining applied to Radio Frequency components? This is your opportunity to join a multidisciplinary team developing the Tristron - a high-efficiency RF power source critical for the Future Circular Collider (FCC).

Your role involves participating in the R&D for manufacturing processes, working with the design office and engineering units to finalise the design and following up the manufacturing in collaboration with the methods office.

This position is within the Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME) Group, which maintains and develops decades of expertise in the design, manufacturing, and assembly of advanced accelerator components.

The Engineering Department (EN) pushes the limits of technology to provide innovative research tools for the global physics community.

Your responsibilities:

In this framework, you will participate in the manufacturing R&D and the fabrication follow-up of the Tristron prototypes. This involves technical discussions and close collaboration with various experts in fields such as machining, vacuum brasing, beam welding, metrology, materials laboratory, and surface treatment to enable and support the R&D program.

Your tasks include:

• Triode Development: Focus on the mechanical realisation and development of the critical Triode components, including the Anode, Cathode, and Grid.
• Laser Processing Development for the Grid: Oversee the development of laser micro-machining and other advanced manufacturing technologies for the grid manufacturing, utilising specialised materials.
• Define and follow up on feasibility studies for High-Precision Machining: achieving sub-10 micron tolerances, required surface roughness, and precise parts fit-up.
• Advanced Joining & Materials Engineering: Define and follow up on feasibility studies for vacuum brasing cycles and/or electron beam welding (EBW) procedures for dissimilar materials, focusing on the metallurgical integrity of joints between oxygen-free copper, technical ceramics, and other high-performance alloys.
• Design-for-Manufacturing (DfM): Based on feasibility studies, provide feedback to the RF designers and MME Design Office to optimise the design for manufacturing.
• Quality Follow-up & Documentation: Define QA/QC plans (metrology, roughness, leak detection), ensure R&D traceability and documentation, and record joining procedures (BPS/WPS) with concerned services.
• Manufacturing Strategy: Participate in the definition of the complete fabrication sequence for the Tristron with the methods office.

Your profile:

• Assembly & Joining: Experience in mechanical components assembly; good knowledge and understanding of fabrication techniques (such as vacuum brasing and electron beam welding) and their application to the design process.
• Fabrication Methods: Experience in application of fabrication methods for high-precision mechanical components or radio frequency (RF) Structures.
• Materials Science: Knowledge of metallic and non-metallic materials (OFHC copper, technical ceramics, and high-performance alloys).
• Technical Drawings: Experience with 3D and 2D technical drawings; ability to read/interpret technical drawings and ISO GPS tolerancing (dimensional and geometrical product specification standards).

Skills:

• CAD Tools: Experience with CAD tools (preferably CATIA) would be an asset.
• Quality Management: Initial experience with quality management processes; knowledge of quality control procedures and standards applicable to mechanical production, including metrology, NDT (leak detection), and the establishment of BPS/WPS.
• RF Specialisation: Knowledge of mechanical fabrication for radio frequency (RF) structures would be a strong asset; familiarity with vacuum chambers and/or laser processing would be an additional advantage.
• 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 Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials eng (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: 14.05.2026 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: Fully Onsite

Target start date: 01-July-2026

This position involves:

• A valid driving licence.

Job reference: EN-MME-FW-2026-79-GRAP

Field of work: Mechanical Engineering

Benchmark job: 200090 - Mechanical 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