Vacuum / Thin film coating Technical Engineer (TE-VSC-SCC-2026-234-GRAE) — CERN
- Location
- Genève
- Contract
- full-time
- Posted
- Yesterday
Role overview
Are you an enthusiastic and curious Technical Engineer looking for a challenging professional experience?
If so, joining CERN's ORIGIN programme may be the perfect opportunity for you.
As a Technical Engineer in the surface coating and chemistry team, you will contribute to the production of thin films for CERN's accelerator complex.
- Are you an enthusiastic and curious Technical Engineer looking for a challenging professional experience?
- If so, joining CERN's ORIGIN programme may be the perfect opportunity for you.
- Your responsibilities
- Operate Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating setups (sputtering): including assembly, vacuum pumping, bakeout, deposition processing, and disassembly.
- Experience in the areas of vacuum technology and the use of vacuum instrumentation, including vacuum pumps.
- Experience in materials for vacuum.
Main responsibilities
- Your responsibilities
- Operate Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating setups (sputtering): including assembly, vacuum pumping, bakeout, deposition processing, and disassembly.
- Measure the thickness and composition of thin films using an X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer.
- Perform validation and quality control of the performance of Non-Evaporable Getter coatings (NEG).
- Prepare technical documentation, including reports and procedures.
- Contribute to the design, procurement, and assembly of tooling for the coating setups.
Key requirements
- Experience in the areas of vacuum technology and the use of vacuum instrumentation, including vacuum pumps.
- Experience in materials for vacuum.
- Basic knowledge in materials properties and characterisation.
- Practical experience in thin films coating is an advantage.
- Familiarity with surface treatments and their execution/preparation is an advantage.
- Experience in Ultra-high vacuum is an advantage. Skills
- Ability to work in groups and actively participate in team activities.
- Ability to work independently and communicate progress, priorities and challenges in your work.
- Knowledge and use of Excel and Word, Labview 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 .
Application process
- By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Vacuum and Material Sciences (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: 21.10.2026 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-January-2027 This position involves:
- Work in Radiation Areas.
- Interventions in underground installations.
Company and context
- Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization. Job reference: TE-VSC-SCC-2026-234-GRAE
- Field of work: Chemical, Materials & Process Engineering Benchmark job: 301180
- Material Science/Chemical Technical Engineer Global Benefits
- A monthly net stipend of either 5266 or 5793 Swiss Francs per month 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.
Additional details
- All necessary training on the specific coating set ups and instrumentation will be given.
- Experience in Ultra-high vacuum is an advantage.
- 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: Fully Onsite Target start date: 01-January-2027 This position involves:
- Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization. Job reference: TE-VSC-SCC-2026-234-GRAE
- Field of work: Chemical, Materials & Process Engineering Benchmark job: 301180
- Material Science/Chemical Technical 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: Fully Onsite
- Target start date: 01-January-2027
- This position involves:
- Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization.
- Job reference: TE-VSC-SCC-2026-234-GRAE
Questions about this listing
What salary does CERN offer for this role?
CERN lists CHF 71'000 - 107'500 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.
