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 technology, employing over 2,500 staff members and hosting thousands of scientists from around the world. CERN operates in multiple countries and is dedicated to pushing the frontiers of science and technology, fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration. Diversity is a core value at CERN, and it remains central to its mission and continued success.

Job Overview:
The position involves working on electromagnetic simulations focused 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 includes contributing to the supervision and technical support of students, providing an opportunity to gain mentoring experience in an international research environment. The work will integrate 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. Knowledge of accelerator physics, wakefields, or beam coupling impedance is considered an asset. The ideal candidate should have skills in electromagnetic simulation tools such as CST, HFSS, or COMSOL, programming experience in Python, familiarity with numerical methods and scientific computing, a problem-solving mindset, and good communication skills with 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 have 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 level of experience required for this position includes having a Master's degree with 2 to 6 years of relevant professional experience or a PhD with up to 3 years of post-graduation experience. Candidates should demonstrate a strong foundation in electromagnetics and computational physics, as well as experience in 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 plus. This bilingual requirement is essential for effective communication within the diverse international 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 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 6372 to 7004 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 depending on individual circumstances. On-the-job and formal training, including language classes, will also be provided.