Computing Engineer

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

• It is known for its groundbreaking work in particle physics and technology, bringing together physicists and a diverse range of professionals from various fields including engineering, technical, scientific, and administrative roles. CERN operates in multiple countries, with a mission to push the frontiers of science and technology, fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration. The organization values diversity and inclusion, ensuring that every contribution is valued and that a shared sense of purpose drives its success.

Job Overview:
The position of Computing Engineer at CERN involves contributing to the global scientific infrastructure by improving the monitoring and understanding of computing resources across the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG). This role is crucial for ensuring that data traffic across heterogeneous storage systems is reliably monitored and visible in near real-time, which is essential for maintaining the reliability of distributed computing operations. The successful candidate will work within the CERN IT department's Technical Coordination group, focusing on the design, deployment, and validation of a scalable monitoring system for data transfers based on the XRootD protocol. This position offers a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge technology and support scientific discoveries at the LHC.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Computing Engineer include: 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.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must have 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 also required, along with exposure to Linux environments, scripting, and Git-based collaborative workflows. Familiarity with network monitoring, time-series data handling, or performance analysis tools is essential. 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 mandatory, while familiarity with distributed systems, network monitoring, and data streaming frameworks is also important. Some experience or interest in Go (Golang) would be an advantage, as well as experience with REST APIs and structured data formats (JSON, Avro, Parquet).

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold either a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Software 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. By the application deadline, candidates should have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in a relevant field such as Software Engineering. This ensures that applicants are relatively new to the workforce and can bring fresh perspectives to the team while still having enough foundational knowledge to contribute effectively.

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 have a commitment to learn French, which is beneficial for integration into the local community and workplace.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this position is 24 months, with a possibility of extension up to a maximum of 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 is as soon as possible. The position is classified under the field of Software Engineering and IT, with a benchmark job reference of 200020 - Computing Engineer. The compensation includes a monthly stipend ranging from 5266 to 5793 Swiss Francs, which is tax-free, along with 30 days of paid leave per year and additional benefits such as comprehensive health insurance, family allowances, and a relocation package.