Do you have a computing engineer or applied physicist background with passion for heterogeneous computing? Join us and contribute to the development of high-performance event reconstruction algorithms to support CERN with the critical upgrade of its calorimeters and related challenges. Take part!

Introduction

The High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) will collect 10 times more integrated luminosity than the LHC, posing significant challenges for radiation tolerance and event pileup on detectors, especially for forward calorimetry. As part of its HL-LHC upgrade program, the CMS collaboration is designing a High Granularity Calorimeter (HGCal) to replace the existing endcap calorimeters. It features unprecedented transverse and longitudinal segmentation for both electromagnetic (ECAL) and hadronic (HCAL) compartments. The detector must operate in an unprecedentedly challenging experimental environment; moreover, the real-time event selection will pose even greater challenges. Heterogeneous computing architectures, in which general purpose and specialized processors work cooperatively, hold strong potential for solving these issues, accelerating applications beyond what one can expect from general purpose processors, while overcoming many of the barriers that limit the application of less conventional architectures. Event Reconstruction in a typical HEP experiment includes both code that could benefit from acceleration and code that is better suited for conventional processing. No one type of processor is best for all computations: heterogeneous processing allows exploiting the best processor type for each operation within a given application, provided that the underlying reconstruction software and framework are properly designed.

Within the CERN CMS detector software development group (EP-CMG-DS) you will take a leading role in the development of high-performance event reconstruction algorithms for the HGCal detector on heterogeneous architectures like CPU and GPU.

Functions

You will play an important role in the development of the heterogeneous solutions applied to HEP event reconstruction, by holding the following responsibilities:

• Coordinate the design and development of fast algorithms for data processing including clusterisation, shower reconstruction, particle flow event interpretation and calibration algorithms.
• Perform system design and software development of the CMS Reconstruction framework in heterogeneous clusters with CPU and GPGPU.
• Develop code for GPU and provide support to software developers working on the performance optimization of the algorithms based in external collaborating institutes.
• Develop testing procedures and quality assurance related to data reconstruction.

Master's degree or PhD or equivalent relevant experience in the field of computing or physics or a related field.

Experience:

• Extensive experience in C++ programming, including the latest C++ standards (C++11,14,17).
• Extensive experience in adapting scientific computing methods to best exploit modern parallel environments (e.g. distributed clusters, multicore SMP, and GPU).
• Extensive experience in implementing and optimizing algorithms on GPU’s through CUDA, OpenCL or through abstraction layers (Alpaka, Sycl,etc...)
• Demonstrated experience in the development of HEP data processing frameworks and particle reconstruction.
• Initial experience with deep learning framework (e.g. TensorFlow, Torch etc.) would be a plus.

Technical competencies:

• Knowledge and application of physics reconstruction techniques: clusterisation, cellular automata, shower reconstruction, tracking and particle flow techniques.
• Knowledge of programming techniques and languages: modern C++ (C++11,14,17), CUDA, OpenCL.
• Development of application software: object-oriented design and development, parallel programming, algorithm development and optimisation.
• Knowledge and application of software life-cycle tools and procedures: git/github/gitlab; JIRA.

Behavioural competencies:

• Achieving results: delivering high quality work on time and fulfilling expectations; following through on new ideas and innovations; planning and implementing application; objectively assessing and monitoring own work; regularly reporting on progress and advising of any changes in schedule or priorities.
• Solving problems: addressing complex problems by breaking them down into manageable components; finding the information needed to solve problems; making objective judgments based on all the facts available; being open to original ideas and creative options by which to address issues; continually driving change by seeking new ways to improve outcomes.
• Learning and sharing knowledge: keeping up-to-date with developments in own field of expertise and readily absorbing new information; taking steps to expand knowledge in other areas of expertise beyond own field; sharing knowledge and expertise freely and willingly with others; coaching others to ensure knowledge transfer.
• Working in teams: working well in groups and readily fitting into a team; participating fully and taking an active role in team activities; cooperating constructively with others in the pursuit of team goals; balancing personal goals with team goals; seeking to help other team members when own work is done; supporting others.
• Demonstrating flexibility: demonstrating openness to new ideas and situations; readily absorbing new techniques and working practices; proposing new or improved ways of working; actively participating in the implementation of new processes and technologies.

Language skills:

• English: very good command (spoken and written).
• French: basic command or willingness to acquire the language.

Eligibility and closing date:

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. 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 21.11.2019

Employment Conditions

Contract type: Limited duration contract (5 years). Subject to certain conditions, holders of limited-duration contracts may apply for an indefinite position.

These functions require:

• Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization.

Job grade: 6-7

Job reference: EP-CMG-DS-2019-110-LD

Benchmark Job Title: Applied Physicist

Please make sure you have all the documents needed to hand as you start your application, as once it is submitted, you will not be able to upload any documents or edit your application further