Software Developer in Radiation Protection

Job Posting Organization:
CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, was established in 1954 and is one of the world's largest and most respected centers for scientific research. With a mission to uncover the fundamental structure of the universe, CERN employs thousands of scientists, engineers, and support staff from over 100 countries. The organization operates in multiple countries and is known for its groundbreaking work in particle physics, utilizing the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments to study the basic constituents of matter. CERN's commitment to diversity and inclusion is a core value, ensuring a rich and varied workforce that contributes to its success.

Job Overview:
The position involves working within the Radiation Protection group of the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Unit at CERN, specifically contributing to the development of the FLUKA Monte Carlo radiation transport code. This code has a wide array of applications including accelerator design, radiation protection, particle physics, dosimetry, and hadron-therapy. The successful candidate will be part of a code development team that integrates members from both the Radiation Protection and the Sources, Targets & Interactions groups. The role requires extending existing features and developing new functionalities that are crucial for the Radiation Protection community, such as biasing based on statistical learning and activation calculations. The candidate will also assist in debugging and supporting the user community, making it essential for applicants to have a passion for stochastic modeling, advanced statistics, and numerical methods in C++. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the next generation of FLUKA and contribute to cutting-edge research in radiation transport simulations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The primary responsibilities of this position include:

• Collaborating with the code development team to integrate various members from the Radiation Protection and Sources, Targets & Interactions groups.
• Extending existing features of the FLUKA code and developing new features that are of high interest to the Radiation Protection community.
• Engaging in debugging processes and providing support to the user community through forums and direct communication.
• Utilizing advanced numerical mathematics and stochastic modeling techniques to enhance the capabilities of the FLUKA code.
• Participating in the automation of processes and data analysis through scripting in Python.
• Learning and applying object-oriented programming patterns and idioms as necessary.
• Contributing to the overall mission of CERN by ensuring that the FLUKA code remains at the forefront of radiation transport simulations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must meet the following qualifications:

• Proven experience in advanced numerical mathematics, stochastic modeling, and statistics.
• Extensive experience working in Linux environments.
• Proficiency in C++ programming.
• Familiarity with GIT or similar distributed version control systems.
• Scripting skills in Python for automation and data analysis.
• Knowledge of object-oriented programming patterns and idioms is advantageous but can be learned during an initial training phase.
• Strong communication skills in spoken and written English or French, with a commitment to learn the other language if necessary.

Educational Background:
The ideal candidate should possess a professional background in Theoretical Physics, Nuclear Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related field. Candidates must 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. Additionally, candidates must be nationals of a CERN Member or Associate Member State and should not have previously held a CERN fellow or graduate contract.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a professional background that includes either a Master's degree with 2 to 6 years of relevant experience or a PhD with up to 3 years of experience. This experience should be in fields related to theoretical or nuclear physics, mathematics, or computer science, ensuring that candidates are well-versed in the necessary technical skills and knowledge required for the role.

Languages:
Candidates must have proficiency in spoken and written English or French, with a commitment to learn 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 the possibility of extension up to a maximum of 36 months. The working hours are set at 40 hours per week, with a target start date of June 1, 202

• The position offers a competitive monthly stipend ranging from 6287 to 6911 Swiss Francs (net of tax), along with comprehensive health coverage for the employee and their family, membership in the CERN Pension Fund, and various allowances depending on individual circumstances. Employees are entitled to 30 days of paid leave per year and will have access to both on-the-job and formal training opportunities, including in-house language courses for English and/or French.