Computing Engineer: S3 Storage & Backup - European Organization for Nuclear Research (Geneva)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Organization for Nuclear Research on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Integrating backup orchestration with disk and tape storage
• Developing and maintaining software in C++/Linux, client and server
• Systems integration, configuration management, testing, monitoring and alerting of the new backup system
• Contributing to planning the migration of existing services to the new backup solution
• Participating in operations, troubleshooting and support as part of a team
• Contributing to procedures and documentation
• Monitoring and performance analysis
• Troubleshooting problems and diagnosing system failures

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field
• Experience: Maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation
• Languages: English, French
• Key skills: C++ software development, Linux systems administration, Scripting in Bash and Python, Spoken and written English
• Eligibility: National of a CERN Member or Associate Member State. Maximum two years of professional experience since graduation. Never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before. Must have a University degree (Bachelor's or Master's). Applicants with a PhD are not eligible.

Contract and working arrangements

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

Working arrangements: Hybrid.

Hiring unit: Storage and Data Management group, Tape Archive and Backup (TAB) section.

Position details

Reference

IT-SD-TAB-2026-209-GRAE

Last Verified

27 August 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Computing Engineer: S3 Storage & Backup at CERN based in Geneva (Other). The vacancy reference is IT-SD-TAB-2026-209-GRAE. The role falls under the Research domain.

Join CERN's Storage and Data Management group, to develop the next-generation backup solution for services across the laboratory. The Storage and Data Management Group is responsible for enabling data access for the laboratory, in particular the long-term archival, preservation and distribution of LHC data to a worldwide scientific community. CERN, take part!

As a Computing Engineer (S3 Storage and Backup Systems), you will join the Tape Archive and Backup (TAB) section, responsible for the CERN Tape Archive software and the management of 1.5 Petabytes of data in cold storage. Your job will include R&D, software development and operations tasks.

The Backup team are developing a future on-premises backup solution based on tiered storage accessed via a S3 API. Hot data is kept on disk and cold data will be migrated to cold storage (tape). You will work on solving technical problems, contributing new software features, and testing and commissioning the new system.

On the operations side, you will be involved in monitoring and performance analysis, troubleshooting problems and diagnosing the cause of any system failures. This includes interaction with services in the Storage and Data Management group and across CERN.

Your responsibilities:

- Integrating backup orchestration with disk and tape storage. - Developing and maintaining software in C++/Linux, client and server. - Systems integration, configuration management, testing, monitoring and alerting of the new backup system. - Contributing to planning the migration of existing services to the new backup solution. - Participating in operations, troubleshooting and support as part of a team. - Contributing to procedures and documentation.

Your profile:

- You are experienced in software development with C++ and Python on Linux. - Ideally you have experience of S3 object storage. - Additional experience that would be advantageous: Ceph, systems integration, backup systems, tiered storage systems.

Skills:

- C++ software development. - Linux systems administration. - Scripting in Bash and Python. - Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

Skills which would be an advantage (but not required; training will be provided where necessary):

- Experience with S3 API, preferably including cold storage (Glacier) extensions. - Knowledge of databases (SQL). - Experience with version control systems (e.g. git). - Experience with containers (e.g. Kubernetes). - Knowledge of monitoring tools (e.g. Grafana, Prometheus).

Eligibility criteria:

- You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State. - By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Computer Science or Software Engineering (or a related field) and your highest educational qualification is either a Bachelor's or Master's degree. - You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before. - Applicants without University degree are not eligible. - Applicants with a PhD are not eligible.

Job closing date: 10.09.2026 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-November-2026

This position involves:

- Stand-by duty, when required by the needs of the Organization. - Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization.

Job reference: IT-SD-TAB-2026-209-GRAE

Field of work: Information Technologies

Benchmark job: 200020 - Computing Engineer

Global Benefits

- A monthly net stipend of either 5266 or 5793 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

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 19 August 2026, 9 days ago.

No closing date is published in the source feed for this position. EU vacancies typically remain open for four to eight weeks; check the official vacancy notice for the cut-off date and time.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 27 August 2026.

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at CERN see the CERN institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Geneva see our Geneva location page; for related vacancies in the Research field browse our Research domain page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.