Research

Software Engineer for CERNBox - 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.

This is a graduate position within the QUEST programme, funded by the EOSC4ALL project of the European Commission. It is open to recent graduates in computer science, engineering or a related field. You do not need to tick every box or have every skill listed below, if you are motivated to learn, we encourage you to apply.

Join CERN's Storage and Data Management Group and help evolve the storage systems behind the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), while learning large-scale storage, cloud-native technologies and open-source software with the support of an experienced team.

You will work on CERNBox, the cloud storage used by the whole CERN community, from scientists to administrative staff. Your main task is to help make it interoperable with research infrastructures across Europe, through the Open Cloud Mesh (OCM) standard, and easy to deploy anywhere using Kubernetes. You will also explore how AI can help users find and use their data.

If you enjoy open standards, open source and building tools that many institutions can adopt, this is the place for you! You will be supported by experienced colleagues and learn from the whole team.

Your responsibilities

- Develop and integrate…

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:

  • Develop and integrate backend and frontend software components
  • Package and deploy interoperable services in distributed environments
  • Support CERN community through operations team, troubleshooting incidents and supporting users
  • Contribute code, features and fixes to CERNBox open-source projects
  • Work with partner institutions and research infrastructures across Europe to test, validate and refine tools
  • Support users and partner teams in adopting tools, providing troubleshooting and guidance
  • Explore and prototype AI/ML capabilities for CERNBox

Are you eligible?

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

  • Education: Master's degree in Computing Engineer or related field, or PhD in Computing Engineer 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: Backend development in Go and API development, Full-stack development, Linux environments and software/systems troubleshooting, Frontend development with JavaScript/TypeScript and Vue.js, Cloud-native technologies: Containers, Docker, Kubernetes, Helm and CI/CD pipelines, Collaboration and communication skills, Open-source software experience
  • Eligibility: National of a CERN Member or Associate Member State. 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: Fully Onsite.

Hiring unit: Storage and Data Management Group, Information Technologies.

Position details

Reference
IT-SD-GSS-2026-174-GRAP
Last Verified
6 November 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Software Engineer for CERNBox at CERN based in Geneva (Other). The vacancy reference is IT-SD-GSS-2026-174-GRAP. The role falls under the Research domain.

This is a graduate position within the QUEST programme, funded by the EOSC4ALL project of the European Commission. It is open to recent graduates in computer science, engineering or a related field. You do not need to tick every box or have every skill listed below, if you are motivated to learn, we encourage you to apply.

Join CERN's Storage and Data Management Group and help evolve the storage systems behind the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), while learning large-scale storage, cloud-native technologies and open-source software with the support of an experienced team.

You will work on CERNBox, the cloud storage used by the whole CERN community, from scientists to administrative staff. Your main task is to help make it interoperable with research infrastructures across Europe, through the Open Cloud Mesh (OCM) standard, and easy to deploy anywhere using Kubernetes. You will also explore how AI can help users find and use their data.

If you enjoy open standards, open source and building tools that many institutions can adopt, this is the place for you! You will be supported by experienced colleagues and learn from the whole team.

Your responsibilities

- Develop and integrate backend and frontend software components. - Package and deploy interoperable services in distributed environments. - Support CERN community: you will join our operations team, troubleshooting incidents and supporting users. - Contribute your code, features and fixes back to the CERNBox open-source projects, working alongside a broader open-source community. - Work with partner institutions and research infrastructures across Europe to test, validate and refine these tools together. - Support users and partner teams as they adopt these tools, helping with troubleshooting and guidance. - Explore and prototype AI/ML capabilities for CERNBox, working with users to identify practical use cases. Prior AI/ML experience is welcome but not required.

Your profile

- Experience with backend development in Go, and an interest in full-stack development. - Comfortable working in Linux environments and troubleshooting software and systems. - Familiarity with frontend development, ideally using JavaScript/TypeScript and Vue.js. - Software development experience from studies, projects, internships or open-source contributions, with a willingness to take ownership of features and to collaborate with others. - Ability to collaborate with users, technical teams and external partners. - Interest in open-source software, distributed systems and interoperability.

Skills

- Backend: Go and API development. - Frontend: Modern frameworks such as Vue.js or similar technologies. - Systems: Linux, troubleshooting and software integration. - Cloud-native technologies: Containers, Docker, Kubernetes, Helm and CI/CD pipelines are an advantage. - Collaboration: Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders. - 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 Computing Engineer (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: 29.11.2026 at 23:59 CET.

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-February-2027

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-GSS-2026-174-GRAP

Field of work: Information Technologies

Benchmark job: 200020 - Computing Engineer

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

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 6 November 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 6 November 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.

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 Research 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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