Computing 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. With a mission to probe the fundamental structure of the universe, CERN employs a diverse workforce of physicists and engineers who work with the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments. The organization operates in multiple countries, with a focus on international collaboration, and has a significant impact on the field of particle physics. CERN is committed to diversity and inclusion, recognizing that a diverse workforce is essential for its success.

Job Overview:
The position of Computing Engineer at CERN involves contributing to the global scientific infrastructure by enhancing the monitoring and understanding of computing resources across the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG). This role is situated within the Technical Coordination group of the CERN IT department, where the successful candidate will be responsible for designing, deploying, and validating a scalable monitoring system for data transfers utilizing the XRootD protocol. The role is crucial for ensuring that data traffic across various storage systems is monitored in near real-time, which is vital for maintaining the reliability of distributed computing operations and ensuring transparent data access for experiments. The candidate will work at the intersection of distributed computing, data engineering, and monitoring automation, supporting the global computing infrastructure that underpins scientific discoveries at the LHC.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Computing Engineer will have a range of responsibilities including: contributing to the design, validation, and deployment of site components for XRootD data monitoring; participating in the validation of monitoring metrics by comparing collector data with network traffic statistics; designing and implementing automated workflows for data quality validation, anomaly detection, and metric correlation across distributed sites; collaborating closely with experiment and site administrators to ensure interoperability, scalability, and reliability of the new monitoring framework; and contributing to the evolution of WLCG monitoring dashboards and data analytics services using modern DevOps and containerized environments such as GitLab CI/CD and Kubernetes. This position offers a unique opportunity to engage in significant projects that impact the scientific community.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess experience or a strong interest in software development for distributed systems and large-scale data infrastructures. A background in data engineering or monitoring pipeline integration is essential, with familiarity in tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, or InfluxDB being advantageous. Exposure to Linux environments, scripting, and Git-based collaborative workflows is required. Additionally, candidates should have familiarity with network monitoring, time-series data handling, or performance analysis tools. Hands-on experience in building or operating containerized services (Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift) is desirable. Programming experience in Python and solid knowledge of Linux environments are necessary, along with familiarity with distributed systems, network monitoring, and data streaming frameworks. Some experience or interest in Go (Golang) would be an advantage, as well as experience with REST APIs and structured data formats like JSON, Avro, or Parquet. Experience with data processing frameworks such as Apache Kafka or Spark is also beneficial.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Software Engineering or a related field. It is important to note that applicants without a university degree are not eligible for this position, and those with a PhD are also not eligible. The educational background is crucial as it ensures that candidates have the necessary theoretical knowledge and technical skills required for the role.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Software Engineering or a related field. This experience should be relevant to the responsibilities of the role, particularly in software development for distributed systems and large-scale data infrastructures. The emphasis on recent graduates ensures that the organization brings in fresh perspectives and up-to-date knowledge in the field.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication at CERN. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate a commitment to learning French, which is beneficial for integration into the local community and workplace environment.

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

• The job reference for this position is IT-TC-LCG-2025-241-GRAE. Compensation includes a monthly stipend ranging from 5196 to 5716 Swiss Francs (net of tax), coverage by CERN's comprehensive health scheme for the employee and their family, and membership in the CERN Pension Fund. Additional benefits may include an installation grant, family allowances, and payment of travel expenses at the beginning and end of the contract. Employees are entitled to 30 days of paid leave per year, and there are opportunities for on-the-job and formal training at CERN, as well as in-house language courses for English and/or French.