Your responsibilities

The CERN IT Storage and Data Management group (IT-SD) operates the core services used by both LHC and non-LHC experiments for data collection, archival, reconstruction, analysis, and global distribution via the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid.

You will join the physics disk storage team, responsible for delivering reliable data services to CERN and its scientific activities. CERN's storage systems are continuously evolving to meet the changing needs of users and experiments, both in terms of functionality and performance, while also optimizing operational costs at CERN and its partner institutions. Today, we deliver over 8 exabytes of data per year and manage more than 1 exabyte of disk storage.

As a Software Engineer for Distributed Storage, you will contribute to a dedicated CERN Openlab collaboration with industry to develop the next generation of storage solutions for high-energy physics experiments. Your work will focus on optimizing exabyte-scale flash infrastructure and refining the application stack for Grid Computing and HPC workloads. You will work with a variety of technologies, including software-defined disk storage, Linux-based disk server operations, and large-scale data management for our multi-petabyte storage farms. Your role will involve designing, developing, and integrating next-generation storage services, primarily leveraging technologies developed and operated by our group in collaboration with external partners.

Skills

• Experience in C++ software design and development
• Advanced in Python programming
• Experience in linux system administration
• Practical experience with development, testing and debugging of applications
• Practical experience with scripting languages (Shell Scripting, others)

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• You have a professional background in Software 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: 7th April at 12:00 AM (midnight) CET.

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

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Target start date: 01-May-2025

This position involves:

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

Job reference: IT-SD-PDS-2025-48-GRAP

Field of work: Software Engineering and IT

What we offer

• A monthly stipend ranging between 6287 and 6911 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.