Software Engineer for Next-Generation Triggers Project

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 thousands of scientists, engineers, and support staff from over 100 countries. The organization operates in multiple countries and is known for its groundbreaking work in particle physics, utilizing the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments to study the basic constituents of matter. CERN's commitment to diversity and inclusion is a core value, fostering a collaborative environment that enhances innovation and discovery.

Job Overview:
The position involves working on the Next-Generation Triggers project at CERN, focusing on optimizing algorithms for real-time data processing on GPUs. The role requires active participation in the development and enhancement of various components, including matrix operations and approximation algorithms, while exploring different floating-point precision to maximize performance and efficiency. The successful candidate will be part of a diverse team of physicists and software engineers, contributing to open-source software that supports CERN's experimental physics goals. This position also includes responsibilities for team supervision, making it essential for the candidate to have strong leadership and collaborative skills.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The primary duties include writing and developing algorithms for CUDA, ROCm, and abstraction layers such as alpaka. The candidate will benchmark and optimize code for high performance, ensuring that existing implementations in C++ and CUDA are collected, selected, combined, and extended for long-term maintainability. Additionally, the role involves working on accelerated mathematical libraries, particularly matrix operations, potentially using Eigen, and conducting Runge-Kutta evaluations. The candidate will also be responsible for presenting their work to the Next Generation Triggers project team, collaborating experiments, and at international conferences, which requires effective communication and presentation skills.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must have programming experience in C++ and CUDA. Experience with AMD GPU programming, GPU profiling, benchmarking, and algorithm optimization is beneficial. Knowledge of C++20, linear algebra, matrix calculations, and GPU programming in CUDA, HIP, or SYCL is essential. Familiarity with git workflows, including branches and pull requests, is also required. Proficiency in spoken and written English is mandatory, and a commitment to learning French is expected.

Educational Background:
The ideal candidate should have a professional background in Software Engineering or Applied Physics (or a related field). They must possess 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. It is important that the candidate has never held a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.

Experience:
The position requires a moderate level of experience, specifically 2 to 6 years of post-graduation professional experience for candidates with a Master's degree, or up to 3 years for those with a PhD. This experience should be relevant to software engineering or applied physics, with a strong emphasis on programming and algorithm development.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory for this position. While not required, it is advantageous for candidates to have a commitment to learning French, as this will enhance communication within the diverse team at CERN.

Additional Notes:
The job closing date is set for January 7, 2026, at 23:59 CET. The contract duration is 24 months, with a possible extension of up to 36 months. The working hours are 40 hours per week, and the job offers hybrid flexibility. The target start date for this position is March 1, 202

• The job reference is EP-CMD-2025-213-GRAP, and it falls under the field of Software Engineering and IT. The compensation includes a monthly stipend ranging from 6287 to 6911 Swiss Francs (net of tax), comprehensive health coverage for the employee and their family, and membership in the CERN Pension Fund. Additional benefits may include an installation grant, family allowances, and travel expense payments at the beginning and end of the contract. Employees are entitled to 30 days of paid leave per year, along with opportunities for on-the-job and formal training, as well as in-house language courses.