In preparation for the High-Luminosity LHC phase, the CMS collaboration is working on an ambitious upgrade of the first stage of its online selection system, the Level-1 (L1) trigger. The upgraded system will use powerful FPGA processors connected through a high-bandwidth network, paving the way for more sophisticated online algorithms such as Particle Flow reconstruction.
By joining the team, you will contribute to the development of these algorithms, their implementation in firmware, and the evaluation of their physics performance.
Your responsibilities:
- Contribute to the development of algorithms for the CMS Level-1 (L1) trigger.
- Integrate and maintain contributions from other developers to support collaborative project development.
- Evaluate the physics performance of the algorithms and contribute to the development of monitoring systems.
- Participate in the hardware testing and installation of the upgraded trigger system.
- Collaborate closely with members of the CMS L1 trigger groups at CERN.
- Present project progress and results at collaboration meetings, workshops, and international conferences.
- This role includes team supervision responsibilities.
Your profile:
- Experience in FPGA firmware development using HDL and High-Level Synthesis (HLS) tools.
- Experience in data analysis, preferably in the field of high-energy physics.
- Practical experience in developing and applying machine learning solutions to real-world problems.
- Experience with Continuous Integration (CI) and quality assurance techniques and tools.
- Familiarity with trigger or data acquisition systems and their associated hardware, such as high-speed optical links, would be an advantage.
Skills:
- Proficiency in software development using C++, Python, and Git is required.
- Knowledge of data analysis tools and techniques, including ROOT and machine learning frameworks, is required.
- Experience with the following software and technologies would be an advantage: Vivado Design Suite, Vivado/Vitis High-Level Synthesis (HLS), GitLab, and continuous integration workflows.
- Strong collaborative skills and effective communication are essential.
- Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.
Eligibility criteria:
- You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
- You have a professional background in Physics (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.
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: Hybrid
Target start date: 01-January-2027
This position involves:
- Interventions in underground installations.
Job reference: EP-CMS-TDQ-2026-157-GRAP
Field of work: Applied Physics
Benchmark job: 200140 - Applied Physicist
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
Skills Required
- Nationality of a CERN Member or Associate Member State
- Professional background in physics or a related field
- Master's degree with 2 to 6 years of post-graduation professional experience, or PhD with no more than 3 years of post-graduation professional experience
- No previous CERN fellow or graduate contract
- FPGA firmware development using HDL and High-Level Synthesis tools
- Data analysis experience
- Practical experience developing and applying machine learning solutions
- Experience with Continuous Integration and quality assurance techniques and tools
- Proficiency in C++, Python, and Git
- Knowledge of data analysis tools and techniques, including ROOT and machine learning frameworks
- Strong collaboration and communication skills
- Spoken and written English, with commitment to learn French
- Experience with trigger or data acquisition systems and associated hardware, including high-speed optical links
- Experience with Vivado Design Suite, Vivado/Vitis HLS, GitLab, and continuous integration workflows
CERN Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about CERN and has not been reviewed or approved by CERN.
-
Healthcare Strength — Health insurance is comprehensive, covering medical consultations, hospitalisation, surgery, accident care, maternity, and certain disability or dependency risks for eligible personnel and families. Coverage is provided through CERN’s dedicated health-insurance scheme.
-
Retirement Support — A defined-benefit pension delivers retirement, disability, and survivors’ benefits based on remuneration and years of service. This structure offers predictable long‑term security for eligible staff.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid leave totals about six weeks per year and is supplemented by a two‑week year‑end closure. Family‑related leave and flexible scheduling are also available where eligibility criteria are met.
CERN Insights
What We Do
CERN is an international laboratory for particle physics research, providing unique particle accelerator facilities to uncover what the universe is made of and how it works.
