Instrumentation Laboratory Assistant (TE-VSC-VSM-2025-8-GRAE)

Job Description

Your responsibilities

The Vacuum Studies and Measurements section of the Vacuum, Surfaces and Coating group (TE-VSC-VSM) is in charge of the maintenance, procurement, calibration, test and storage of more than 200 partial pressures gauges and 1000 total pressure gauges from different suppliers. We will offer a recent qualified technician unique training opportunities in the fields of:

Quantitative residual gas analyses in ultra-high vacuum, including:

Testing different models of residual gas analysers (RGA): connecting to vacuum systems, pump-down and bake-out procedures, establishing communication between instruments and computers, and practicing with dedicated software;
Optimisation of RGA's parameters and measurement of RGA's sensitivities by multiple gas injections.
Diagnose of RGA's errors and breakdowns;
Maintenance of all types of RGA: dismantle and reassembly of RGA to replace sub-components in accordance with ultra-high vacuum requirements;
Assistance to RGA users.

Total pressure measurement in ultra-high vacuum:

Calibration of Bayard-Alpert gauges in a dedicated test stand by gas injections. Measurement of sensitivities, encompassing error analysis and statistical evaluations.

Your profile

Skills

• Technical, mechanical and instrumentation skills;
• Knowledge of computer communication tools, software and data acquisition;
• Fluent in English;
• Knowledge and hands-on experience with ultra-high vacuum systems would be an asset;

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State .
• By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Instrumentation, mechanics (or a related field) and your highest educational qualification is a general secondary education diploma.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
• Applicants with a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree are not eligible.
• Valid driving licence. 

Additional Information

Job closing date: 3 March 2025 at 23h59 CET 

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

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Target start date: 01-April-2025

This position involves:

• Work in Radiation Areas.
• Interventions in underground installations.
• Residence in the immediate vicinity of the Organization's installations.

Job reference: TE-VSC-VSM-2025-8-GRAE

Field of work: Material and Surface Science

What we offer

• A monthly stipend of 4624  Swiss Francs (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.

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.