Your responsibilities

We are looking for a talented electronic engineer to join the Experimental Physics Department at CERN as a Digital IC Design Engineer. In this role, you will take part in the development of digital microelectronics for high-speed, radiation-tolerant communication systems used in advanced particle physics detectors. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to technologies that will shape the future of High Energy Physics experiments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and develop digital circuits for high-speed, radiation-tolerant silicon photonics systems.
• Contribute to the entire design flow: architecture definition, RTL implementation, physical design, simulation, and validation.
• Work with advanced CMOS technology nodes, addressing challenges such as multi-mode/multi-corner designs, power integrity, and sign-off methodologies.
• Perform hands-on laboratory work, including circuit testing, characterisation, and radiation qualification.

Your profile

Skills:

• Proficiency in digital circuit design using Hardware Description Languages (e.g., Verilog).
• Working knowledge of at least one programming, scripting, or data analysis language (e.g., Python, Bash, MATLAB).
• Experience in laboratory characterisation of integrated circuits.
• Strong interest in CMOS circuit design and technology, with eagerness to learn about CERN's specific applications.
• Collaborative mindset: enjoy working in small teams to build practical solutions in close cooperation with users and external partners.
• Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

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 Electronics Engineering (or a related field) and your highest educational qualification is either a Bachelor's or Master's degree.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
• Applicants without University degree are not eligible.
• Applicants with a PhD are not eligible.

Additional Information

Job closing date: 29.09.2025 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-November-2025

This position involves:

• Work in Radiation Areas.

Job reference: EP-ESE-ME-2025-160-GRAE

Field of work: Electrical or Electronics Engineering

What we offer

• A monthly stipend ranging between 5196 and 5716 Swiss Francs (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.

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.