Junior Automation & Controls Engineer (BE-ICS-ACS-2026-206-GRAE) — CERN
- Location
- Genève
- Contract
- full-time
- Posted
- 2 days ago
Role overview
Join the Automatic Control & Safety (ACS) section of the CERN Industrial Controls group (BE-ICS) and contribute to the control systems for the Primary Gas Systems (PGS) that supply detectors and installations across CERN's Experimental Areas.
A central activity is the migration of the LHC Primary Gas Systems to a dedicated Experimental Areas infrastructure, regrouping their development, maintenance and first-line support.
You will work across the full control stack
- Join the Automatic Control & Safety (ACS) section of the CERN Industrial Controls group (BE-ICS) and contribute to the control systems for the Primary Gas Systems (PGS) that supply detectors and installations across CERN's Experimental Areas.
- A central activity is the migration of the LHC Primary Gas Systems to a dedicated Experimental Areas infrastructure, regrouping their development, maintenance and first-line support.
- Your responsibilities
- Contribute to the migration of the LHC Primary Gas Systems, covering PLC and SCADA (WinCC OA) development and commissioning.
- Interest in industrial control systems and hands-on work with hardware, instrumentation and field installations.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work within a multidisciplinary team.
Main responsibilities
- Your responsibilities
- Contribute to the migration of the LHC Primary Gas Systems, covering PLC and SCADA (WinCC OA) development and commissioning.
Key requirements
- Interest in industrial control systems and hands-on work with hardware, instrumentation and field installations.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work within a multidisciplinary team.
- Good communication skills in English, with the ability to document and present technical work clearly. Skills
- Some knowledge of PLC programming (IEC 61131-3) on Schneider and/or Siemens platforms, or willingness to learn.
- Familiarity with SCADA systems (WinCC OA an asset) and industrial communication protocols such as PROFIBUS, PROFINET, Modbus or Flowbus.
- Proficiency in a scripting or programming language such as Python.
- Interest in field instrumentation and gas/fluid systems.
- Knowledge of continuous integration (GitLab CI) or model-driven code generation an asset.
- Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French. Eligibility criteria:
- You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State .
Application process
- Develop and configure gas-system control applications on Schneider M580 and Siemens S7-1500 PLCs.
- Support factory and site acceptance testing (FAT/SAT), installation and commissioning in the experimental areas, together with documentation and first-line operational support.
- By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Automation, Control 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.
- Job closing date: 09.09.2026 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-November-2026 This position involves:
Contacts
- Contribute to the specification, I/O definition and instrumentation of primary and detector gas systems and to HMI, touch-panel and notification (email/SMS) development.
Company and context
- 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
Additional details
- using CERN's model-driven Gas Control System (GCS) and UNICOS-CPC frameworks.
- Good communication skills in English, with the ability to document and present technical work clearly.
- Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French. Eligibility criteria:
- 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-November-2026 This position involves:
- Interventions in underground installations. A valid driving licence. Job reference: BE-ICS-ACS-2026-206-GRAE Field of work: Electronics Engineering Benchmark job: 200020 Computing Engineer
Notes and original content
- Your profile
- Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.
- Eligibility criteria:
- 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-November-2026
- This position involves:
- Interventions in underground installations.
- A valid driving licence.
Questions about this listing
What salary does CERN offer for this role?
CERN lists CHF 51'100 - 77'500 gross per year for this position in Genève. This is the salary published in the original listing (or, when the employer omits a figure, a realistic estimate for the role and sector) — the calculator on this site converts it to your actual net take-home once cross-border tax and social contributions are applied.
Is this a full-time role, and what type of contract does CERN offer?
This listing is a full-time position. The contract type shown here comes directly from the employer's original posting; always confirm exact hours, notice period and probation length with CERN during the application process, since these details can vary by role even within the same contract category.
Do I need a cross-border work permit for a role in Geneva?
EU/EFTA residents living in the border zone of the country adjoining Canton Geneva can apply for a G permit; the Swiss employer files it with that canton's migration office after the contract is signed. Border-zone rules and processing times vary by neighbouring country and canton, so confirm the specifics with Geneva's cantonal migration office or with HR during the application.
How do I apply for this position at CERN?
Use the "Apply now" button on this page — it links directly to CERN's original listing at jobs.smartrecruiters.com, so your application goes straight to the employer's own applicant-tracking system. Frontaliere Ticino does not collect or forward applications itself.
