Technician - Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Cooling - European Commission (AST1, Karlsruhe)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Commission 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:

• Ensure installations run according to safety and security standards
• Implement new installations and machines in ventilation and cooling systems
• Assist with running the infrastructure of the JRC-Karlsruhe site
• Propose and perform solutions for good functioning of systems
• Collaborate with the leader of the ventilation group
• Draft technical documentation (technical specifications, qualification and acceptance test criteria, user manuals)
• Prepare equipment purchases
• Manage installation and maintenance projects

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Diploma in mechanical, electrical or electronics engineering is an advantage
• Experience: Minimum 3 years of technical experience in the engineering or electrical field, with experience in operating, maintenance and management of complex installations, particularly in HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems, including their electric supply and I&C (instrumentation and control) technology
• Languages: English (required), German (required), EU official languages (good kn…)
• Key skills: Hands-on technical skills, Ability to analyse and structure technical information, Excellent communication skills, Problem-solving skills, Ability to work independently and under pressure, Ability to work in a team, Ability to guide a small project team of external contractors, Sense of safety regulations
• Eligibility: Must be a citizen of a Member State of the EU and enjoy full rights as a citizen; must have fulfilled any obligations imposed by applicable laws concerning military service; must be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post; must produce appropriate character references as to suitability for the performance of the duties. This position is a category A exposed worker involving risk o…

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Submit CV, completed application form, and diploma
• Short-listing
• Medical checks by occupational health service

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: Temporary agent contract.

Working arrangements: Karlsruhe, Germany.

Hiring unit: Unit JRC.G.2 - Infrastructure, Directorate-General Joint Research Centre (DG JRC), Karlsruhe.

Position details

Reference

JRC/COM/2026/1618

Directorate-General

JRC - Joint Research Centre

Vacancy Notice

Download PDF

Last Verified

15 September 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Technician - Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Cooling at European Commission based in Karlsruhe at the AST1 grade level (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is JRC/COM/2026/1618. It is hosted by JRC - Joint Research Centre, the Directorate-General responsible for this policy area. The role falls under the Buildings And Supplies domain.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE - JOIN THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Do you want to help shape the future of the European Union? Make the planet greener, promote a fairer society, or support businesses and innovation across the EU? Then come and work for the European Commission where you can really make a difference!

Commission staff are a diverse group of people, who are motivated to help make Europe – and the world – a better place. They come from the 27 Member States of the European Union. Different nationalities, backgrounds, languages and cultures make the Commission a vibrant and inclusive place to work.

WE OFFER GREAT JOBS AND GREAT WORKING CONDITIONS:

- Interesting and challenging jobs with plenty of opportunities for training and acquiring new skills and competencies throughout your whole career

- Opportunities to move between different policy areas throughout your career

- A package of flexible working conditions including the possibility of teleworking – we care about your work-life balance

- A competitive financial package, including comprehensive healthcare, accident and pension schemes

- A multilingual, multicultural workplace where personal and career development are strongly promoted

- Multilingual schools for your children

We recruit from a wide range of backgrounds and actively promote diversity and inclusion:

We do not only recruit political scientists and lawyers but are also looking for all kinds of profiles, including scientists, linguists, IT experts, data analysts and economists, as well as drivers and engineers.

We are committed to equal opportunities and to fostering a rich, diverse and inclusive working environment. We aim for our workforce to be representative of European society and strongly welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We actively seek to create a workplace where each staff member feels valued and respected, can give their best and can develop to their full potential. 2JRC/COM/2026/1618

To promote diversity and establish a geographically balanced pool of candidates, we strongly encourage applicants from Member States which are currently underrepresented in the European Commission workforce to apply. These Member States are currently Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Netherlands, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden 1. Recruitment will however remain strictly based on the merits of all applicants and no positions will be reserved for nationals of any specific Member State.

For more information ec.europa.eu/work-with-us

STAFF RECRUITED ON CONTRACTS

In addition to permanent officials, the European Commission offers non-permanent positions. There are two categories of non-permanent staff:

temporary agents are recruited to fill vacant positions for a set amount of time or

to perform highly specialised tasks.

contract agents may provide additional capacity in specialised fields where an

insufficient number of officials is available or carry out a number of administrative or manual tasks. They are generally recruited for fixed-term contracts (maximum 6 years in any EU Institution), but in some cases they can be offered contracts for an indefinite duration (in offices, agencies, delegations or representations).

For more information on different staff categories

1Please note that the list of underrepresented Member States may be subject to future amendment based on potential data changes over time.

3JRC/COM/2026/1618

Technician - Heating, Ventilation,

Air Conditioning and Cooling

Directorate - General Joint Research Centre (DG JRC ) of the

European Commission

Selection reference: JRC /COM/202 6/1618

Domain: Building and Supplies

Where : Unit JRC.G.2 - „Infrastructure“, Karlsruhe

Staff category and Function Group : Temporary agent 2d – Assistant

Grade range: AST1 -3

Publication deadline : 17.09 .202 6 - 12.00 (Brussels time)

WE ARE

The Joint Research Centre is the science and knowledge service of the European Commission and

provides independent, evidence -based knowledge and science, supporting EU policies to positively

impact society. The activities are carried out in collaboration with relevant Commission Services,

national and international organisations and stakeholders. The JRC is located in five Member States

(Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain). More information about the JRC can be found

at: https://joint -research -centre.ec.europa.eu/index_en

JRC Directorate G for Nuclear Safety and Security implements the JRC Euratom Research and

Training Programme to serve both ''nuclear'' and ''non -nuclear'' EU Member States. The Directorate

supports policy in the areas of nuclear safety, security, safeguards and nuclear science applications.

The current vacancy is within the unit JRC.G.2 “Infrastructure”, which has the tasks to support,

coordinate and manage all infrastructure of the JRC Karlsruhe site, including the finalisation and

operation of a new research building . It provides all units with technical services, performs regular

maintenance of technical infrastructure and installations, and repair of buildings. The unit ensures a

functional, safe, cost -effective and modern design and operation of the infrastructure, and delivers

utilities, support services and management of the green areas.

The Unit is located in Karlsruhe (Germany). It is composed of 30 staff members, of which 20 are

technicians in various fields and 10 performing managerial or administrative tasks.

WE PROPOSE

We have a vacanc y fo r a Technician in the field of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and

Cooling .

The purpose of the job is to ensure that installations run according to safety and security standards 4JRC/COM/2026/1618

and to implement new installations and machines, in particular within the ventilation and cooling

systems.

The job offers a great opportunity to work independently with possibilities to initialise new projects

from idea and design phase till its implementation and maintenance - a full life circle.

As the successful candidate, you will have the opportunity to work in a dynamic and international

environment, first and foremost assisting with all the running of the infrastructure of the JRC -

Karlsruhe site . This job will involve you actively in the “machine room”, where you daily will be able

to propose and perform solutions for good functioning of our systems.

You will collaborate directly and on a daily basis with the leader of the ventilation group, which is

composed of s ix experienced colleagues , supported by several external contractors.

The candidate will be offered an interesting and challenging position in a demanding but

stimulating technical working environment with many internal and external contacts and an

excellent working atmosphere.

WE LOOK FOR

We look for a motivated candidate who has her/his strength in the technical domain. Besides

hands -on technical skills, she/he preferably has experience in drafting documentation (technical

specifications, qualification and acceptance test criteria, user manuals, etc.), preparing equipment

purchases, managing installation and maintenance projects and supervising external contract staff.

A minimum of 3 years of technical experience in the engineering or electrical field, with experience

in the operating, maintenance and management of complex installations, is required; particular in

HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems, including their electric supply and I&C

(instrumentation and control) technology .

It will be an advantage with a diploma in mechanical electrical or electronics engineering .

The candidate should be able to analyse and structure technical information, and have excellent

communication and problem -solving skills, and be able to work independently and under pressure.

She/he shall possess the capacity to work in a team but also to perform his/her duties

independently or guide a small project team of external contractors.

A sense of safety regulations will be an advantage. A good knowledge of two EU official languages

is requested. Good knowledge of English and German is required.

This position is "a category A exposed worker": her/his work involves a risk of exposure to ionizing

radiation and contamination. Therefore, she/he is submitted to the operational radiation protection

measures including specific training, individual dosimetry and monitoring, and medical surveillance.

The short -listed candidate will be subject to specific medical checks performed by the occupational

health service (Medical Service of the Commission) in order to determine whether she or he is fit to

work in controlled areas. If the short -listed candidate is not declared fit to work in controlled areas,

she/he will not be selected for this position. 5JRC/COM/2026/1618

HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST?

You should send your documents in a single pdf in the following order:

1. your CV 2. completed application form 3. your diplo ma

Please send these documents by the publication deadline to HR -JRC -KRU -SELECTION -

[email protected] indicating the selection reference JRC /COM/202 6/1618 in the

subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline. 6JRC/COM/2026/1618

ANNEX

1. Selection

➢ Am I eligible to apply?

You must meet the following eligibility criteria when you validate your application :

Our rules provide that you can only be recruited as a temporary agent at the European Commission if you:

General criteria:

- Are a citizen of a Member State of the EU and enjoy full rights as a citizen

- Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by applicable laws concerning military service

- Are physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post

- Produce the appropriate character references as to suitability for the performance of the duties.

Salary at this grade

Basic monthly salary at AST1 runs from €3,754 (step 1) to €4,248 (top step), giving an annual range of roughly €45,048 to €50,976 before tax and allowances. Steps increase automatically every two years; the figures here are taken from the salary grid in the EU Staff Regulations.

Eligible staff posted away from their country of nationality also receive an expatriation allowance worth 16% of basic salary (around €601 per month at step 1 of AST1) together with household, dependent-child, and education allowances where applicable. Take-home pay is then adjusted by the country correction coefficient for Karlsruhe. For a worked example see our correction coefficients guide and the EU salaries overview.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 3 September 2026, 12 days ago.

The deadline is today, 17 September 2026. Applications submitted after the cut-off time set in the vacancy notice will not be considered.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 15 September 2026.

Where to learn more

For full responsibilities, requirements, and career progression at AST1 see our AST1 grade page; for headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at European Commission see the European Commission institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Karlsruhe see our Karlsruhe location page; for related vacancies in the Buildings And Supplies field browse our Buildings And Supplies 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.