Electronics Engineer

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

• It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and employs over 2,500 staff members, along with thousands of scientists and engineers from around the world. CERN operates in multiple countries, collaborating with various international organizations and institutions to advance the frontiers of science and technology. The organization is renowned for its groundbreaking work in particle physics and is home to the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator. CERN's mission is to uncover the fundamental structure of the universe, and it fosters an environment of innovation and collaboration among its diverse workforce.

Job Overview:
The Electronics Engineer position within the Converter Controls Electronics (CCE) section at CERN offers a unique opportunity to engage in the development of high-performance digital control systems. The role involves designing electronics that drive power converters, which are crucial for powering the magnets across the accelerator complex. This position serves as a bridge between academic theory and high-reliability industrial engineering, allowing the engineer to transition from standard FPGA design to working on critical systems where precision and robustness are essential. The engineer will be responsible for designing VHDL for Xilinx Kintex-7 and Zynq UltraScale+ platforms, exploring advanced verification strategies, and applying 'correct-by-construction' techniques and Formal Methods to ensure the safe and reliable operation of control loops and interlocks for power converters.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Electronics Engineer will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• FPGA Design & Implementation: Translating control requirements into efficient, synthesizable VHDL code, focusing on digital signal processing filters, PWM generation, and fast interlocks on Xilinx Kintex-7 targets.
• Architecture & Modularity: Designing modular gateware that interfaces with embedded processors and external peripherals, ensuring clean clocking architectures and robust data paths.
• Continuous Integration (CI): Contributing to the maintenance and improvement of the FPGA CI pipeline, ensuring that simulations, synthesis, and timing analysis are automated and reproducible.
• Verification & Reliability: Researching and applying Formal Verification methods to validate critical protection logic and improve design reliability.
• Simulation & Analysis: Performing functional simulations and Static Timing Analysis (STA) to meet strict latency and timing requirements for real-time power conversion control.
• Hardware Validation: Deploying designs in the lab and using Integrated Logic Analyzers (ILA) and oscilloscopes for debugging.
• Documentation: Contributing to technical documentation to ensure clear recording of design choices and verification results for future reference.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must demonstrate a solid understanding of digital logic design and FPGAs, with experience gained through academic projects during their Bachelor's or Master's studies. Real-world experience with debugging and proving FPGA designs through unit testing and simulation is essential. Familiarity with FPGA development environments, particularly Xilinx Vivado or ISE, is required. Prior internships in electronics, control systems, or embedded hardware are considered a strong asset. Proficiency in VHDL is preferred, with an understanding of the differences between simulation and synthesis code. A solid grasp of synchronous design, Finite State Machines (FSMs), and standard interfaces (SPI, I2C, or memory buses) is necessary. Experience writing self-checking testbenches and a strong interest in learning Formal Verification methods are also required.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold either a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electronics, Computer Engineering, or a related field. Applicants without a university degree are not eligible, and those with a PhD are also not eligible for this position. The educational background should include coursework or projects related to digital logic design and FPGA development.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in the relevant fields of Electronics or Computer Engineering. This experience can be gained through internships or academic projects that demonstrate the necessary skills and knowledge for the role.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English or French is mandatory, with a commitment to learn the basics of the other language. This bilingual requirement is essential for effective communication within the diverse environment at CERN.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this position is 24 months, with a possible extension of up to 36 months. 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 01-March-202

• The job reference is SY-EPC-CCE-2025-278-GRAE, and it falls under the field of Electrical or Electronics Engineering. The benchmark job code is 200050 - Electronics Engineer. Compensation includes a monthly stipend ranging from 5196 to 5716 Swiss Francs, which is tax-free, along with 30 days of paid leave per year, comprehensive health insurance coverage, family allowances, and a relocation package depending on individual circumstances. On-the-job and formal training, including language classes, will also be provided.