Job Description

Your responsibilities

In this position you will work in a collaboration between the Radio Frequency (RF) group, responsible for the acceleration and longitudinal control of the particle beams, and the Controls Electronics and Mechatronics (CEM) group, responsible for the development and maintenance of hardware and low-level software of centralized electronics systems.

Within the framework of the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) project, fast analog and digital signal processing techniques are being developed to control the electrical field in the accelerating cavities operating in the radio-frequency range (400MHz in the LHC). To enhance the future RF distribution within the CERN accelerator complex, an innovative approach based on Radio Frequency (RF) distribution over White-Rabbit (https://ohwr.org/project/white-rabbit/-/wikis/home) has been developed.

In this position, you will improve the performance of an existing RF White Rabbit-based module, the eRTM15 . You will actively participate in all the phases of the project, from the specification and design, to testing prototypes and overseeing a small series production.

As an Electronics Engineer in the project you will:

• Design, prototype, and test low-noise electronic components, PCBs and systems;
• Develop test setups and conduct full performance characterization of systems;
• Develop automated tests, to be run on real hardware during Continuous Integration (CI);
• Collaborate closely with firmware and software engineers;
• Debug installations in the field, as part of a multidisciplinary team;
• Document hardware designs, testing procedures, and operational guidelines in a structured manner. 

Your profile

Skills and/or knowledge
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Expected technical competencies:

• Demonstrated experience in the design of analog-digital electronic circuits and systems, including component selection, PCB schematics entry and layout; 
• Demonstrated experience in the distribution of very stable, low-jitter clock signals;
• Demonstrated experience in simulating digital and analog electronic circuits;
• Expertise in instrumentation and measurement techniques. 

Advantageous technical competencies:

• Design and simulation of FPGA-based electronics (HDL); 
• Programming techniques and languages (Python, C).

Behavioural competencies:

• Achieving results: delivering high quality work on time and fulfilling expectations; having a structured and organised approach towards work;
• Solving problems: identifying, defining and assessing problems, taking action to address them; anticipating obstacles; assessing alternative solutions in order to have a fall-back plan;
• Communicating effectively: expressing opinions, ideas and suggestions with conviction and in a logical/structured manner; keeping to the point; listening actively to others and letting others speak; delivering presentations in a structured and clear way.

Language competencies:

• 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 Electronics Engineer for Timing Systems (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.

Additional Information

Job closing date: 10.11.2024 at 23:59h (midnight) CET.

Job reference: BE-CEM-EDL-2024-154-GRAP

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

Target start date: 01-December-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.