Company Description
At CERN, the European Organisation 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.
Job Description
Introduction
IT’s Compute and Devices Group is looking for a computing engineer to take over responsibility for the onsite High-Performance Compute (HPC) SLURM clusters which have established use cases in the Organisation including for the ATS sector and the Theory department.
This position will be in the Compute and Configuration section, which is responsible for large scale compute, from the HPC farm through High Throughput Compute, Volunteer Computing and Configuration & Secret Management services.
Functions
- Ensure service delivery for the SLURM HPC clusters to the user community as the primary service manager and technical lead of the service.
- Serve as the escalation point for the user community support requests, help to gather requirements and usage best practices.
- Configure, upgrade, monitor the clusters and provide ongoing maintenance.
- Ensure high utilisation of the resources by interfacing with HTCondor brokered backfill of resources.
- Define procedures and best practices for the wider team in order to promote operational support coverage.
- Look for synergies with other team members and teams for management of compute resources, or access to high performance compute resources for the community.
Qualifications
Master's degree or equivalent relevant experience in the field of Computer Science or a related field.
Experience:
- Support experience of HPC or batch systems, ideally SLURM but knowledge of HTCondor or similar would be an advantage.
- Demonstrated knowledge of configuration management systems such as Puppet, Chef, Ansible or Terraform, and monitoring of distributed systems.
- Knowledge of system administration, in particular Linux environments.
- Dealing with user relations, user support and user requirements definition.
- Programming techniques and languages, in particular Python or Go.
Technical competencies:
- Knowledge of operating systems (Linux).
- Knowledge of system configuration tools (Puppet, Ansible, Terraform).
- Architecture and design of ICT systems.
- Identification and selection of relevant emerging ICT technologies.
- Knowledge and application of software life-cycle tools and procedures.
Behavioural competencies:
- Working in Teams: working well in groups and readily fitting into a team; participating fully and taking an active role in team activities.
- Solving Problems: addressing complex problems by breaking them down into manageable components.
- Managing Self: taking initiative beyond regular tasks and making things happen.
- Building Relationships: showing appreciation for the ideas and contributions of others and encourages others to express their views, even if controversial.
Language skills:
Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.
Additional Information
Eligibility and closing date:
Diversity has been an integral part of CERN's mission since its foundation and is an established value of the Organisation. Employing a diverse workforce is central to our success. We welcome applications from all Member States and Associate Member States.
This vacancy will be filled as soon as possible, and applications should normally reach us no later than 22.04.2026 at 23:59 CEST.
Employment Conditions
Contract type: Limited duration contract (5 years). Subject to certain conditions, holders of limited-duration contracts may apply for an indefinite position.
Working Hours: 40 hours per week
Job Flexibility: Hybrid
This position involves:
- Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organisation.
- Stand-by duty, when required by the needs of the Organisation.
Job grade: 6-7
Job reference: IT-CD-CC-2026-64-LD
Field of work: Software Engineering and IT
Benchmark Job Title: Computing Engineer
Global Benefits
- A competitive salary (tax free), increasing in line with your years of relevant experience.
- 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, removal, travel expenses) depending on your individual circumstances.
- Possibility to extend your contract up to 8 years + eligibility for indefinite contract tenure.
Overview of CERN - Discover a world where the impossible is made possible!
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