High-Level Trigger Calibration Scientist - 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:

• Work with CMS Detector Performance Groups and Physics Object Groups to develop new and improve calibration algorithms
• Maintain the NGT Demonstrator System and ensure it remains operational in replay mode throughout Long Shutdown 3
• Contribute to the design of a production-grade NGT Data Acquisition and Calibration System for HL-LHC
• Integrate and test the production-grade system within CMS online infrastructure
• Conduct thorough testing of the NGT system in realistic environments simulating LHC and CMS operational scenarios
• Produce detailed reports evaluating the impact of improved online calibrations on High-Level Trigger physics performance
• Team supervision responsibilities

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Master's degree in Applied Physics or related field, or PhD in Applied Physics or related field
• Experience: 2 to 6 years of post-graduation professional experience with Master's degree, or no more than 3 years of post-graduation professional experience with PhD
• Languages: English (spoken…), French (commitm…)
• Key skills: Design, development, and validation of calibration workflows for high-energy physics experiments, Python and C++ programming, Database management systems, Trigger and Data Acquisition (TDAQ) systems experience, Software algorithms development within integrated framework, Git (GitHub, GitLab) and continuous integration practices, Modern Git, Python, and C++, Basic DevOps and Continuous Integration (CI) knowledge, Familiarity with high-energy collider and detector operations, Basic high-energy physics knowledge
• Eligibility: You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before

Contract and working arrangements

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

Working arrangements: Hybrid; work during nights, Sundays and official holidays when required.

Hiring unit: CMS Experiment, Next-Generation Trigger programme.

Position details

Reference

EP-CMS-TDQ-2026-150-GRAP

Last Verified

15 September 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for High-Level Trigger Calibration Scientist at CERN based in Geneva (Other). The vacancy reference is EP-CMS-TDQ-2026-150-GRAP. The role falls under the Research domain.

The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment's High-Level Trigger, as deployed during the LHC's 2009-2026 running period, reconstructs high-energy proton-proton collision events using detector conditions that often lag behind the best available calibrations. Closing that gap by delivering near-real-time, offline-quality calibrations to the online system, also known as "Optimal Calibrations," is one of the central challenges of High-Luminosity (HL)-LHC operations, and it is the challenge this role will face.

This position is part of the Next-Generation Trigger programme.

Your responsibilities

- Work with the CMS Detector Performance Groups (DPGs) and Physics Object Groups (POGs) to develop new and improve calibration algorithms. - Maintain the successful NGT Demonstrator System, developed during LHC Run 3, ensuring it remains operational and capable of running in replay mode against archived data throughout Long Shutdown 3. - Building on the NGT Demonstrator System experience, contribute to the design of a realistic, production-grade NGT Data Acquisition and Calibration System implementing the Optimal Calibrations required for CMS's High-Level Trigger during the HL-LHC era. This includes exploring the design space across different compute and storage availability scenarios. - Integrate and test the production-grade system within the CMS online infrastructure, working closely with system administrators and software engineers to ensure seamless compatibility. - Conduct thorough testing of the NGT system in a realistic environment, simulating various LHC and CMS operational scenarios to assess performance and reliability. - Produce detailed reports evaluating the impact of improved online calibrations on the physics performance of the High-Level Trigger. - This role includes team supervision responsibilities.

Your profile

- Experience in the design, development, and validation of calibration workflows for high-energy physics experiments. - Knowledge and application of Python and C++ programming, as well as database management systems. - Experience with Trigger and Data Acquisition (TDAQ) systems, including their hardware and associated tools. - Practical experience developing software algorithms within an integrated framework. - Proficient use of software development tools (e.g. GitHub, GitLab) and continuous integration practices.

Skills

- Knowledge of modern Git, Python, and C++. - Basic knowledge of DevOps and Continuous Integration (CI). - Familiarity with high-energy collider and detector operations. - Basic knowledge of high-energy physics. - Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

Eligibility criteria:

- You have a professional background in Applied 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: 05.10.2026 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:

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

Job reference: EP-CMS-TDQ-2026-150-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.

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Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 14 September 2026, 1 day 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 Research field browse our Research domain page.

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