Reliability 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 centres for scientific research. With a mission to uncover the fundamental structure of the universe, CERN employs thousands of scientists, engineers, and support staff from over 100 countries. The organization operates multiple particle accelerators and experiments, contributing significantly to our understanding of particle physics and the fundamental laws of nature. CERN's commitment to diversity and inclusion is a core value, fostering a collaborative environment that enhances innovation and discovery.

Job Overview:
The Reliability Engineer position at CERN is pivotal in ensuring the dependability and qualification of the ACCURATE Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) for integration into CERN's Radiation Monitoring Electronics system known as CROME. This role involves evaluating the reliability and robustness of the ASIC under various operational and environmental conditions, conducting degradation experiments to assess the impact of aging on measurement accuracy, and defining qualification and validation plans that comply with CERN's stringent safety and reliability standards. The engineer will also be responsible for conducting Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) and Root Cause Analyses (RCA) for identified issues, establishing and monitoring reliability metrics such as Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and Failure Rate (λ), and coordinating various testing processes including accelerated life testing and radiation tolerance testing. Collaboration with ASIC designers, system engineers, and safety specialists is essential to define qualification criteria for the integration of the ASIC into the CROME platform, and the engineer will document results and present findings through technical reports and design review meetings.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Evaluate the reliability and robustness of the ACCURATE ASIC under various operational and environmental conditions.
• Conduct degradation experiments to assess the effect of aging on measurement accuracy.
• Define and implement qualification and validation plans in compliance with CERN safety and reliability standards.
• Conduct Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) and Root Cause Analyses (RCA) for identified issues.
• Establish and monitor reliability metrics such as Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and Failure Rate (λ).
• Coordinate accelerated life testing, radiation tolerance testing, and environmental stress screening.
• Collaborate closely with ASIC designers, system engineers, and safety specialists to define qualification criteria for integration into the CROME platform.
• Document results and present findings through technical reports and design review meetings.

Required Qualifications:

• Proven experience in reliability engineering and the development of test plans.
• Experience in setting up experimental campaigns.
• Proficiency with circuit simulation concepts and experience using SPICE-based tools.
• Ability to set up simulation testbenches, analyze waveforms, and interpret results.
• Proficiency in developing automation scripts, data processing tools, and system utilities using Python and Bash.
• Ability to write clean, efficient, and well-documented code for simulation setup, data extraction, and workflow automation.
• Proficiency in Git in collaborative development environments, understanding branching strategies, code review workflows, and best practices for maintaining clean, traceable version histories.
• Knowledge in Linux-based development and skilled in using command-line tools, shell environments, and administration" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">system administration tasks.
• Familiarity with instrumentation for ionising radiation monitoring is a strong asset. 1
• Knowledge of reliability modelling tools and methodologies (FMEA/FMECA, Weibull analysis, HALT/HASS). 1
• Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a professional background in Mechanical/Reliability Engineering/Microelectronics or a related field. A Master's degree with 2 to 6 years of post-graduation professional experience is required, or a PhD with no more than 3 years of post-graduation professional experience. Additionally, candidates must be nationals of a CERN Member or Associate Member State and must not have previously held a CERN fellow or graduate contract.

Experience:
The position requires proven experience in reliability engineering, specifically in the development of test plans and the setup of experimental campaigns. Candidates should have a solid background in electronics simulation and test automation, with a focus on scripting languages. Experience in reliability modelling tools and methodologies is also essential, as well as familiarity with instrumentation for ionising radiation monitoring.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory, and candidates should demonstrate a commitment to learning French, which is considered a valuable asset for the role.

Additional Notes:
The job closing date is set for 04.01.2026 at 23:59 CET. The contract duration is 24 months, with a possible extension of up to 36 months maximum. The position requires a commitment of 40 hours per week and offers hybrid working hours. The target start date for this position is 01-April-202

• The role involves work in radiation areas and interventions in underground installations. The job reference is HSE-RP-IL-2025-247-GRAP, and it falls under the field of Mechanical Engineering, benchmark job 200090 - Mechanical Engineer. Compensation includes a monthly stipend ranging from 6287 to 6911 Swiss Francs per month (net of tax), coverage by CERN's comprehensive health scheme, and membership in the CERN Pension Fund. Additional benefits may include installation grants, 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 and will receive on-the-job and formal training at CERN, as well as in-house language courses for English and/or French.