Engineering

Electrical Design Technician - European Organization for Nuclear Research (Geneva)

Contract TypeOther

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.

The Electrical Engineering Group (EN-EL) at CERN is responsible for the electrical power-distribution network (from 400 kV to 400/230V), for the fibre-optics infrastructure, and for signal and DC-power cabling for the accelerator complex.

You will join the electrical Design and Documentation Office (EN-EL-DDO). You will take on a support electrical designer role. This will include the creation and modification of electrical drawings, design of low voltage distribution networks, cable sizing, equipment sizing, LV protection studies and the general support to senior electrical designers. With time you will be required to take on design tasks of increasing complexity. In addition, you will oversee various quality-related activities within the Design Office, such as the management of the printing office and the maintenance and updating of templates.

This is the perfect opportunity for a junior technician to further establish their existing knowledge of low voltage distribution circuits by putting it into practice.

Your responsibilities:

- Preparing design drawings using CAD software. - Preparing calculation notes using ElecCalc/Caneco BT or similar. - Preparing bills of material…

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:

  • Preparing design drawings using CAD software
  • Preparing calculation notes using ElecCalc/Caneco BT or similar
  • Preparing bills of material and cabling tables for electrical-related equipment in Excel
  • Updating excel based design templates
  • General quality related tasks in the design office
  • Creation and modification of electrical drawings
  • Design of low voltage distribution networks
  • Cable sizing

Are you eligible?

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

  • Education: General secondary education diploma; highest educational qualification must be general secondary education diploma (Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree makes applicant ineligible)
  • Experience: Maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Electrical Engineering or a related field; demonstrated experience in design of low voltage distribution networks, cable sizing and selectivity studies; producing drawings in AutoCAD or similar; intermediate level of Microsoft EXCEL
  • Languages: English (spoken…), French (spoken…)
  • Key skills: Understanding of low voltage distribution networks (selectivity, completing calculation notes, knowledge of European LV standards, protection, protection of circuits for indirect contact, knowledge of different types of…, Understanding of power systems; voltage drop calculations, short circuit calculations, understanding fault levels, dimensioning of cables, Experience on low voltage design calculation tools (ElecCalc, Caneco or similar software), Proficient in AutoCAD or similar, Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Experience on the design of lighting systems for buildings and external areas using DIALux, Experience with E-PLAN or similar software, Experience in the design of medium voltage distribution networks
  • Eligibility: By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Electrical Engineering (or a related field) and your highest educational qualification is a general secondary education diploma. You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before. Applicants with a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree are not eligible. Valid driving licence require…

Contract and working arrangements

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

Working arrangements: Fully Onsite.

Hiring unit: Electrical Engineering Group (EN-EL), Electrical Design and Documentation Office (EN-EL-DDO).

Position details

Reference
EN-EL-DDO-2026-218-GRAE
Last Verified
18 September 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Electrical Design Technician at CERN based in Geneva (Other). The vacancy reference is EN-EL-DDO-2026-218-GRAE. The role falls under the Engineering domain.

The Electrical Engineering Group (EN-EL) at CERN is responsible for the electrical power-distribution network (from 400 kV to 400/230V), for the fibre-optics infrastructure, and for signal and DC-power cabling for the accelerator complex.

You will join the electrical Design and Documentation Office (EN-EL-DDO). You will take on a support electrical designer role. This will include the creation and modification of electrical drawings, design of low voltage distribution networks, cable sizing, equipment sizing, LV protection studies and the general support to senior electrical designers. With time you will be required to take on design tasks of increasing complexity. In addition, you will oversee various quality-related activities within the Design Office, such as the management of the printing office and the maintenance and updating of templates.

This is the perfect opportunity for a junior technician to further establish their existing knowledge of low voltage distribution circuits by putting it into practice.

Your responsibilities:

- Preparing design drawings using CAD software. - Preparing calculation notes using ElecCalc/Caneco BT or similar. - Preparing bills of material and cabling tables for electrical-related equipment in Excel. - Updating excel based design templates. - General quality related tasks in the design office.

Your profile:

Demonstrated experience in:

- The design of Low voltage distribution networks, cable sizing and selectivity studies. - Producing drawings in AutoCAD or similar. - The intermediate level of Microsoft EXCEL.

Skills:

- An understanding of low voltage distribution networks (selectivity, completing calculation notes, knowledge of European LV standards, protection, protection of circuits for indirect contact, knowledge of different types of earthing systems). - An understanding of power systems; voltage drop calculations, short circuit calculations, understanding fault levels, dimensioning of cables. - Experience on low voltage design calculation tools (ElecCalc, Caneco or similar software). - Proficient in AutoCAD or similar. - Proficient in Microsoft Excel. - Spoken and written English or French, with a commitment to learn the basics of the other language.

Beneficial skills/or knowledge:

- Experience on the design of lighting systems for buildings and external areas using DIALux. - Experience with E-PLAN or similar software. - Experience in the design of medium voltage distribution networks. - Motivated candidates without direct design office experience would still be considered.

Eligibility criteria:

- By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Electrical Engineering (or a related field) and your highest educational qualification is a general secondary education diploma. - You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before. - Applicants with a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree are not eligible.

Job closing date: 15.10.2026 at 23:59 CEST.

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

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-EL-DDO-2026-218-GRAE

Field of work: Electrical Engineering

Benchmark job: 300040 - Electrical Technician

Global Benefits

- A monthly stipend of 4687 Swiss Francs per month (tax free). - 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, 16 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 18 September 2026 (2 days ago).

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

Career progression for this grade staff is governed by Articles 44 to 46 of the Staff Regulations (consolidated text on EUR-Lex) and Annex IB on the promotion procedure. Step increases are automatic every two years (Art. 44); grade promotion is competitive, based on the appraisal exercise (Art. 45) and the Career Development Review. For roles at CERN, progression to the next grade typically takes three to five years on merit, with two-yearly step increases in between. Article 46 governs the classification at recruitment, which sets the starting step within the grade (usually step 1 for external recruits without prior EU service, step 2 or 3 where relevant professional experience is recognised).
Mobility within the institutions is encouraged via the inter-institutional and intra-institutional vacancy publication system: temporary agents who pass the probation period and reservists from EPSO laureate lists can typically apply to internal vacancies after one year of service. Lateral moves between Directorates-General reset the seniority clock for promotion only if the new post carries a different grade.

Language profile

Beyond the formal language requirements stated in the vacancy notice, the day-to-day working languages at this employer are English and French in roughly equal measure, with German appearing in some technical files. Internal meetings and most policy drafting in Brussels run in English; French remains the preferred internal language in Luxembourg-based services and parts of DG TRADE.

Application cadence

CERN has not advertised another comparable role with the same grade and Engineering signature in the past twenty-four months. This opening has rarely been seen on the EU Careers feed and may be the first such posting in our two-year window. Applicants who pass the eligibility checks should not assume the same profile will reopen on a predictable cadence.

Source: This job listing was sourced from the officialEU Careers portal (EPSO). First published: .

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