Your responsibilities

As a Mechanical Engineer in the LHC Insulation Vacuum Team, you will play a key role in supporting, participating in, and when required coordinating activities related to the insulation vacuum systems for LHC Long Shutdown 3 (LS3) and the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC), with a strong focus on leak detection and system QA/QC.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Supporting and carrying out leak detection activities and operating the insulation vacuum system for the HL-LHC Inner Triplet String test.
• Designing, producing, and performing quality assurance on clam shells and seals for local leak detection, using production methods such as 3D printing, moulding, and machining.
• Preparing, participating in, and where necessary coordinating the vacuum degradation and re-pumping of the LHC insulation vacuum system during LS3.
• Preparing, participating in, and coordinating (as required) global and envelope leak tests following the LHC LS3 warm-up and during the initial HL-LHC phases (QXL).
• Preparing, participating in, and coordinating (as required) local leak tests of interconnections using clam shells during magnet exchanges, corrective maintenance, and at the early stages of HL-LHC (QXL).
• Maintaining and ensuring quality control of documentation related to leak detection activities, including identifying, following up on, and managing non-conformities.
• Defining working methodologies and data storage processes to ensure full traceability of leak test results and activities.

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

Your profile

Skills:

Essential skills:

• Experience in the design and fabrication of mechanical assemblies.
• Knowledge of project management and quality assurance principles.
• Practical experience in the maintenance of mechanical equipment.
• Strong ability to work effectively as part of a team.

Desirable skills:

• Knowledge of joining techniques and 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 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: 08.10.2025 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-January-2026

This position involves:

• Work in Radiation Areas.
• A valid driving licence.

Job reference: TE-VSC-DLM-2025-187-GRAE

Field of work: Mechanical 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.