Software Engineer for Real Time Control Systems (BE-ICS-ACS-2024-125-GRAP)

Your responsibilities

Many of the critical control systems at CERN rely on the integration of custom instrumentation and actuators into very large-scale industrial control systems. In this position you will play a key roll in uniting these domains. You will be expected to identify and design suitable abstractions for device models which bridge driver-level software with large-scale industrial controls and supervision systems.

You will join:

• The Beams Department (BE), responsible for the beam generation, acceleration, diagnostics, controls, and performance optimization for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and its injector accelerators.
• The Industrial Control Systems Group (ICS), responsible for providing technology, frameworks, engineering, and CERN-wide support for systems and projects in all domains where standard industrial control solutions can be used.
• The Automatic Control and Safety Section (ACS), responsible for providing expertise in advanced controls, process simulation and functional safety, and support for PLC and automation technologies.

The primary responsibilities of this position include the development, maintenance and support of control system software implemented in C++ using the CERN FESA framework.  These control systems include:

• Full Remote Alignment System (FRAS): Remote alignment of magnets and beam elements for the HL-LHC upgrade
• Cryogenics controls: Integration of custom instrumentation into a large-scale industrial control system
• LHC machine interlocks: integrating PLC-based interlock systems into the accelerator controls infrastructure

As a Software Engineer in the Industrial Control Systems group, you will:

• Design, develop, test, deploy, document and maintain new software based on the FESA and UNICOS frameworks; 
• Provide operational support for the deployed control systems; 
• Develop, extend and maintain the tooling and workflows for engineering the control systems; 
• Contribute to other software development activities within the group, including automated testing. 

Your profile

Skills and/or knowledge

Required skills & experience:

• Demonstrated experience in C++; 
• Demonstrated experience in Python; 
• Ability to produce well-documented, well-tested and maintainable code; 
• Ability to analyse client requirements and transform into concise software specifications. 

Advantageous skills & experience:

• Experience in CI/CD (for example using GitLab CI); 
• Experience in C#; 
• Knowledge and experience of PLC-based industrial control systems. 

Language skills:

• Fluent in English, the ability to work in French would be an advantage.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• You have a professional background in Software Engineer for Real Time Control (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.

Job closing date: 21.08.2024 at 12:00 AM (midnight) CET.

Job reference: BE-ICS-ACS-2024-125-GRAP

Contract duration: 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.

Target start date: 01-October-2024

What we offer

• A monthly stipend ranging between 6212 and 6828 Swiss Francs per month (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.

We are on a Quest. A Journey into discovery like no other. Bring your expertise to our unique work and develop your knowledge and skills at pace. Join world-class subject matter experts on unique projects, in a Quest for greater knowledge and deeper understanding.

Begin your CERN Quest. Take Part!

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.