Computing Operations Engineer

Job Posting Organization:
CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, was established in 1954 and is one of the world's largest and most respected centers for scientific research. CERN's mission is to uncover the fundamental structure of the universe by studying the basic constituents of matter. The organization employs a diverse workforce of physicists, engineers, and computing experts from around the globe, working collaboratively on groundbreaking experiments such as the Large Hadron Collider. CERN operates in multiple countries and is known for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, which has been a core value since its inception.

Job Overview:
The Computing Operations Engineer position at CERN involves supporting the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment, which is a significant detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The role is crucial for ensuring that computing jobs across the globe have fast and reliable access to the detector's conditions. This includes managing extensive data from over 100 million detector channels, which encompasses operational settings and component alignment stored in a central database. The CMS utilizes a system called Frontier to efficiently deliver this data, converting database queries into web requests and caching results across a network of servers. The engineer will be responsible for maintaining the central Frontier infrastructure and supporting the distributed system across the global CMS computing network, as well as managing the glideinWMS Factory, which is essential for the job-submission infrastructure of CMS.

Duties and Responsibilities:
As a Computing Operations Engineer, your primary responsibilities will include operating and maintaining the central Frontier infrastructure at CERN, ensuring its reliability and efficiency. You will support the distributed Frontier/launchpad system that operates across the global CMS computing network. Additionally, you will take charge of the glideinWMS Factory, which is critical for the worldwide job-submission infrastructure of CMS. This role requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team of scientists and engineers.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field. It is essential that applicants have never held a CERN fellow or graduate contract before. A university degree is mandatory, and applicants without a degree or those holding a PhD are not eligible for this position. The ideal candidate will have experience in programming, service management, administration" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">system administration, and software development, along with a solid understanding of relational databases.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes either a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the complexities of the computing operations and the technologies involved in the CMS experiment.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation. This experience should ideally be in areas related to programming, system administration, and software development, which are essential for the responsibilities of the Computing Operations Engineer.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate a commitment to learning French, which is considered beneficial for integration into the CERN community and for effective communication within the organization.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this position is 24 months, with the possibility of extension up to a maximum of 36 months. The working hours are set at 40 hours per week, and the job offers a hybrid flexibility model. The target start date for this role is January 1, 202

• The job reference number is EP-CMO-2025-221-GRAE, and it falls under the field of Software Engineering and IT, benchmarked as job 200020 - Computing Engineer. The compensation includes a monthly stipend ranging from 5196 to 5716 Swiss Francs (net of tax), comprehensive health coverage for the employee and their family, and various allowances depending on individual circumstances. Employees are entitled to 30 days of paid leave per year, along with opportunities for on-the-job and formal training at CERN, as well as in-house language courses.