Controls and Automation Engineer - 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.
Join the Cooling and Ventilation developers team within CERN's Engineering Department (EN), where you will contribute to the development, commissioning, and maintenance of Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and automation solutions essential to the operation of CERN's accelerators, detectors, and infrastructure.
As part of a multidisciplinary team of technicians and engineers, you will be involved in the specification, design, commissioning, and maintenance of a wide range of ICS dedicated to cooling and ventilation plants for accelerator facilities, experimental areas, and technical infrastructure.
In this role, you will become familiar with CERN's modern UNICOS framework, used for:
- Developing Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) applications on Schneider and Siemens platforms. - Configuring and maintaining Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems for Cooling and Ventilation ICS.
This position offers the opportunity to work on large-scale industrial installations in a highly technical and collaborative environment.
Your responsibilities:
- Gather control system requirements and compile all relevant technical documentation. - Design automation solutions and…
Excerpt shown; read the full notice on the official page. The structured breakdown below covers the key facts.
Key responsibilities
According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:
- Gather control system requirements and compile technical documentation
- Design automation solutions and control systems for industrial ventilation and cooling plants
- Develop and implement PLC applications for ICS
- Define and execute tests of ICS on simulators
- Perform on-site commissioning of ICS
- Design, implement, and deploy improvements and corrective actions for operational control systems
Are you eligible?
Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:
- Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Automation and Controls or a related field
- Experience: Maximum two years of professional experience since graduation in Automation and Controls or a related field
- Languages: English (spoken…), French (commitm…)
- Key skills: PLC programming using SIEMENS Step7, TIA Portal and/or Schneider Control Expert, High-level programming languages (e.g. Python), Version control software systems (e.g. git), Ability to read and work with electrical schematics, Configuration, programming, and operation of SCADA systems, Understanding of industrial automation principles and control systems
- Eligibility: National of a CERN Member or Associate Member State. Never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before. Must have a Bachelor's or Master's degree. PhD holders are not eligible. Valid driving licence required.
Contract and working arrangements
Contract duration: 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.
Working arrangements: Fully Onsite.
Hiring unit: Engineering Department (EN), Cooling and Ventilation developers team.
Position details
- Reference
- EN-CV-CL-2026-205-GRAE
- Last Verified
- 15 September 2026
Position overview
This is the official EU Careers listing for Controls and Automation Engineer at CERN based in Geneva (Other). The vacancy reference is EN-CV-CL-2026-205-GRAE. The role falls under the Engineering domain.
Join the Cooling and Ventilation developers team within CERN's Engineering Department (EN), where you will contribute to the development, commissioning, and maintenance of Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and automation solutions essential to the operation of CERN's accelerators, detectors, and infrastructure.
As part of a multidisciplinary team of technicians and engineers, you will be involved in the specification, design, commissioning, and maintenance of a wide range of ICS dedicated to cooling and ventilation plants for accelerator facilities, experimental areas, and technical infrastructure.
In this role, you will become familiar with CERN's modern UNICOS framework, used for:
- Developing Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) applications on Schneider and Siemens platforms. - Configuring and maintaining Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems for Cooling and Ventilation ICS.
This position offers the opportunity to work on large-scale industrial installations in a highly technical and collaborative environment.
Your responsibilities:
- Gather control system requirements and compile all relevant technical documentation. - Design automation solutions and control systems for Industrial ventilation and cooling plants. - Develop and implement PLC applications for ICS. - Define and execute tests of ICS on simulators. - Perform on-site commissioning of ICS. - Design, implement, and deploy improvements and corrective actions for operational control systems.
Your profile:
- Proven experience in Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) programming. - Good knowledge of PLC development based on the IEC 61131 standard. - Initial experience in Python programming or other high-level programming languages. - Ability to read and work with electrical schematics. - Initial experience in the configuration, programming, and operation of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems. - Understanding of industrial automation principles and control systems.
The following would be considered an advantage:
- Experience with SCADA systems in an industrial environment. - Knowledge of automation theory and industrial process control.
Skills:
- PLC programming using SIEMENS Step7, TIA Portal and/or Schneider Control Expert. - High-level programming languages (e.g. python). - Version control software systems (e.g. git). - Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.
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 Automation and Controls (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: 24.09.2026 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: Fully Onsite
Target start date: 01-January-2027
This position involves:
- Work in Radiation Areas. - Interventions in underground installations. - A valid driving licence.
Job reference: EN-CV-CL-2026-205-GRAE
Field of work: Electrical or Electronics Engineering
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 4 September 2026, 12 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 15 September 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 Engineering field browse our Engineering 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.
Career trajectory
Language profile
Application cadence
Visit the official European Organization for Nuclear Research website
Source: This job listing was sourced from the officialEU Careers portal (EPSO). First published: .