Software Engineer for Next-Generation Triggers Project

Job Posting Organization:
CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is a leading scientific research institution established in 195

• It is located in Geneva, Switzerland, and is known for its groundbreaking work in particle physics. CERN employs over 2,500 staff members and collaborates with thousands of scientists from around the world, representing more than 100 nationalities. The organization operates in multiple countries, primarily in Europe, and is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the universe through innovative research and technology.

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 components such as matrix operations and approximation algorithms, with an emphasis on exploring various floating-point precision to maximize performance and efficiency. The successful candidate will be part of a diverse and collaborative team of physicists and software engineers, contributing to open-source software that supports the physics reach of CERN experiments. This position also includes responsibilities for team supervision, making it essential for the candidate to have strong leadership and communication skills.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The primary duties and responsibilities for this position include writing and developing algorithms for CUDA, ROCm, and abstraction layers like 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, including matrix operations (potentially using Eigen) and Runge-Kutta evaluation. The candidate will also be responsible for presenting their work to the Next Generation Triggers project, collaborating experiments, and at international conferences, which requires effective communication and presentation skills. Team supervision responsibilities will also be part of the role, necessitating strong leadership capabilities.

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 calculation, and GPU programming in CUDA, HIP, or SYCL is essential. Familiarity with using 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 should 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 candidates to have a solid level of experience in programming, particularly in C++ and CUDA, with a focus on real-time data processing and algorithm optimization. Candidates with 2 to 6 years of post-graduation experience or those with a PhD and up to 3 years of experience are encouraged to apply. Experience in presenting results through publications and conferences is also valued.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, candidates should be committed to learning French, which is considered a valuable asset for effective communication within the organization and with colleagues.

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 a hybrid working 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 per month (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, along with opportunities for on-the-job and formal training at CERN, as well as in-house language courses for English and/or French.