Your responsibilities

As a Precision Engineer specializing in crystal collimators & benders, you will be responsible for the design, fabrication, testing, and maintenance of high-precision devices used in beam collimation systems. Crystal collimators rely on ultra-high precision mechanical components ("crystal benders"), assembled with crystal strips, inside a vessel that keeps the device under ultra-high vacuum.

Your role will include working closely with cross-functional teams composed by physicists, materials scientists, and other engineers to develop innovative solutions that meet the stringent requirements of particle accelerator systems.

 Specifically, you will:

• Define and analyze complex numerical models to study the behaviour of crystal collimators & benders; 
• Drive the design and assess the performance of the produced parts under different conditions, including operation and their stability when exposed to thermal loads; 
• Prototype and test the devices, including procurement, qualification and assembly of the devices; 
• Perform numerical simulations of the prototypes; 
• Follow-up on the devices during testing and operation with particle beams, analyze the performance and compare it with numerical models; 
• Write documentations and procedures, including testing procedures, specifications and other technical or scientific documentation.

Your profile

Skills and/or knowledge

• Robust knowledge in solid mechanics, structural and thermal analysis by means of Finite Element Methods;
• Familiar with metrology techniques for ultra-high precision mechanics; 
• Writing of technical and scientific documents.
• Specific training and experience in Precision Engineering would be highly appreciated;
• Strong analytical skills; 
• Capable of working in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural teams;
• 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 Mechanical engineering (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: 4th October 2024 at 23.59 PM (midnight) CEST.

Job reference: SY-STI-TCD-2024-156-GRAP

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

Target start date: 01-January-2025

This position involves:

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

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.