Research Physicist

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 operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. CERN employs over 2,500 staff members and collaborates with thousands of scientists from around the globe, representing more than 100 nationalities. The organization is dedicated to pushing the frontiers of science and technology, fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration, and is committed to diversity and inclusion as core values since its inception.

Job Overview:
The position involves working on electromagnetic simulations focusing on wake field and beam coupling impedance studies in accelerator components. A significant aspect of the role is the further development of Wakis, an open-source wakefield simulation code available on GitHub. The successful candidate will be responsible for implementing new features, benchmarking against commercial electromagnetic solvers, and validating the code on realistic accelerator geometries using bench measurements. Additionally, the role requires collaboration with the beam dynamics code Xsuite, contributing to the supervision and technical support of students, and gaining valuable mentoring experience in an international research environment. The work will encompass computational and applied electromagnetics, accelerator physics, and scientific software development within a collaborative team setting.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The responsibilities of the position include designing, implementing, and validating new features and numerical methods within the Wakis simulation code. The candidate will coordinate and prioritize development activities in collaboration with supervisors and users, perform electromagnetic simulations of accelerator components for wakefield and beam coupling impedance studies, and benchmark Wakis results against commercial electromagnetic solvers and analytical models. Furthermore, the role involves contributing to the construction, validation, and maintenance of impedance models for CERN accelerators, supporting and technically supervising junior students working on Wakis-related simulation tasks, reviewing contributions from other developers, assisting with code integration and testing, improving documentation, examples, and user workflows for Wakis, and presenting progress and results in internal meetings and working groups.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a solid background in electromagnetics and/or computational physics, with experience in numerical simulations and scientific computing. Familiarity with Git and collaborative software development workflows is essential, along with knowledge of open-source software development. While knowledge of accelerator physics, wakefields, or beam coupling impedance is considered an asset, candidates should also demonstrate skills in using electromagnetic simulation tools such as CST, HFSS, or COMSOL. Programming experience in Python is required, and familiarity with numerical methods and scientific computing is expected. A problem-solving mindset and the ability to learn new tools quickly are crucial, as are good communication skills and a willingness to support and mentor junior students.

Educational Background:
The position requires candidates to be nationals of a CERN Member or Associate Member State and to have a professional background in Physics, Engineering, or a related field. Candidates should hold 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 candidates have not previously held a CERN fellow or graduate contract.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a professional background that includes either a Master's degree with 2 to 6 years of relevant experience or a PhD with a maximum of 3 years of post-graduation experience. This experience should be in fields related to physics, engineering, or computational physics, with a strong emphasis on numerical simulations and scientific computing.

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

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this position is 24 months, with the 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 for the position is June 1, 202

• The job reference is BE-ABP-CAP-2026-51-GRAP, and it falls under the field of Applied Physics. The compensation includes a monthly stipend ranging from 6,372 to 7,004 Swiss Francs, which is tax-free, along with 30 days of paid leave per year and additional benefits such as comprehensive health insurance coverage, family allowances, a relocation package, and opportunities for on-the-job and formal training, including language classes.