Mechanical Engineer for Vacuum Technology (TE-VSC-BVO-2026-155-GRAP)

Location: Geneva, GENEVA, ch

Job Description

Join CERN's Vacuum, Surfaces and Coatings Group and contribute to engineering projects supporting the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments.

As a Mechanical Engineer in the Experimental Vacuum team, you will work on the design, development, production and testing of ultra-high vacuum equipment around the ATLAS, ALICE, CMS and LHCb experiments.

You will take part in projects from initial engineering concepts through design, simulation and prototyping to testing, installation and operational follow-up. Working alongside engineers, technicians and specialists from other disciplines, you will gain hands-on experience with complex mechanical systems in a unique scientific environment.

Your responsibilities

• Design and develop precision mechanical equipment for ultra-high vacuum applications.
• Create 3D CAD models and perform structural, thermal and modal analyses to validate designs.
• Follow projects through design, prototyping, manufacturing, assembly and testing.
• Plan and carry out laboratory tests, including leak detection, residual gas analysis and vacuum performance measurements.
• Work with CERN workshops, suppliers and technical teams to support production and quality control.
• Contribute to the installation, commissioning and improvement of vacuum equipment for the LHC experiments.
• Collaborate across engineering disciplines to solve technical challenges and deliver reliable solutions.

Your profile

• Mechanical design and CAD (CATIA, Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks or similar).
• Engineering simulation and analysis (ANSYS or similar).
• Precision mechanics, manufacturing, assembly or testing.
• Vacuum technology or laboratory environments.
• Experience with ultra-high vacuum systems, leak detection or residual gas analysis is an advantage, but you do not need experience in all these areas.

Skills

• Good foundation in mechanical engineering and design.
• Interest in developing expertise in ultra-high vacuum and precision engineering.
• Practical, curious and solution-oriented approach.
• Clear communication and commitment to high-quality engineering.
• Spoken and written English or French, with a commitment to learn the basics of the other language.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• You have a professional background in Mechanical Engineering (or a related field) and 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.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.

Additional Information

Job closing date: 19.10.2026 at 23:59 CEST.

Contract duration: 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Job flexibility: Fully Onsite

Target start date: 01-January-2027

This position involves:

• Work in Radiation Areas.
• Interventions in underground installations.

Job reference: TE-VSC-BVO-2026-155-GRAP

Field of work: Mechanical Engineering

Benchmark job: 200090 - Mechanical Engineer

Global Benefits

• A monthly net stipend of either 6372 or 7004 Swiss Francs per month depending on your degree.
• 30 days of paid leave per year plus 2 weeks annual closure.
• Coverage by CERN’s comprehensive health insurance scheme (for yourself, your spouse and children), and membership of the CERN Pension Fund.
• Family, child and infant monthly allowances depending on your individual circumstances.
• A relocation package (installation grant and travel expenses) depending on your individual circumstances.
• Possibility to extend your contract up to 36 months.
• On-the-job and formal training including language classes.

Overview of CERN - Discover a world where the impossible is made possible!

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, we are pushing the frontiers of science and technology. Our groundbreaking work brings together not only physicists but also a diverse range of professionals from engineering, technical, scientific, and administrative fields. Together, we foster an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive.

Every day, we face exciting new challenges and opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge research that shapes our understanding of the universe. We meet these challenges through the diverse perspectives within our teams, ensuring every contribution is valued and driving our shared sense of inclusion and purpose. Diversity is a core value of CERN since its foundation, and it remains central to our mission and continued success.

If you are ready to be part of a dynamic, inclusive community pushing the boundaries of knowledge, CERN is the place where your curiosity and skills can thrive. Be part of our mission to uncover what lies at the heart of the universe! TAKE PART!

More information about us, here: careers.cern