Computer Scientist - Open Science Analysis Facilities

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

• It is located in Geneva, Switzerland, and is known for its groundbreaking work in particle physics. CERN employs over 2,500 staff members and collaborates with thousands of scientists from around the world, representing more than 100 nationalities. The organization operates in multiple countries and is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of knowledge in the field of fundamental physics, utilizing the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments to study the basic constituents of matter.

Job Overview:
The position of Computer Scientist in the Open Science Analysis Facilities at CERN is designed for individuals who are passionate about enabling open science through advanced computing services and collaborative research environments. The successful candidate will join CERN’s IT Department and play a crucial role in developing scientific computing services that support analysis facilities, open data, and interoperable research infrastructures. This role involves a combination of hands-on technical work and engagement with diverse scientific communities, making it essential for the candidate to have a strong understanding of both technical and collaborative aspects of scientific research. The position requires contributing to the technical design, development, and operation of analysis facilities that support scalable and reproducible scientific analysis workflows, as well as designing and implementing Virtual Research Environments (VREs) that integrate data management, workflow execution, software distribution, and analysis services.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Computer Scientist include:

• Contributing to the technical design, development, and operation of analysis facilities that support scalable and reproducible scientific analysis workflows.
• Designing and implementing Virtual Research Environments (VREs) that combine data management, workflow execution, software distribution, and analysis services.
• Contributing to federated scientific data infrastructures, including data lake concepts, distributed data management, and large-scale data access.
• Supporting and coordinating technical activities with scientific communities involved in open science data challenges, including particle physics and external research infrastructures.
• Developing and maintaining software components, service integrations, and operational tooling for scientific computing services, including cloud-native deployments and automation.
• Promoting common solutions and best practices across communities, contributing to competence centres, working groups, and collaborative technical forums.
• Working with research infrastructures and scientific domains such as particle physics, astronomy, and astroparticle physics to translate requirements into robust computing solutions.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's Degree or PhD or equivalent relevant experience in Software Engineering, Physics, or a related field. They should have experience in the development and operation of scientific computing platforms or research services, including analysis facilities, distributed analysis environments, or interactive scientific workflows. Familiarity with large-scale data management, data lake architectures, or federated infrastructures is essential. Additionally, candidates should have experience integrating research data services, repositories, workflow platforms, or authentication and authorization systems. Technical collaboration with scientific communities or international research infrastructures is also required, and familiarity with open science, FAIR data principles, research repositories, or EOSC-related services would be advantageous. Experience in a coordinating role in distributed scientific communities around data analysis and data management would be an asset, as well as experience with tools such as Rucio, REANA, CVMFS, Notebook technology (e.g., JupyterLab), or Zenodo/InvenioRDM.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's Degree or PhD in Software Engineering, Physics, or a related field. Candidates should have a strong foundation in scientific computing and relevant technical skills that align with the responsibilities of the role.

Experience:
Candidates should have substantial experience in the development and operation of scientific computing platforms or research services. This includes experience with analysis facilities, distributed analysis environments, or interactive scientific workflows. Familiarity with large-scale data management and data lake architectures is also necessary, along with experience in integrating research data services and collaborating with scientific communities.

Languages:
The mandatory language for this position is English, both spoken and written. Candidates should also have a commitment to learning French, which is considered beneficial for the role.

Additional Notes:
This position is a limited duration contract for 5 years, with the possibility of extension up to 8 years and eligibility for an indefinite contract tenure. The job requires working 40 hours per week, with hybrid job flexibility. The role may involve working during nights, Sundays, and official holidays as required by the needs of the organization. The job grade is classified as 6-7, and the reference for this position is IT-CA-IR-2026-139-LD. CERN offers a competitive salary that 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.