Job Description

Join Our Team as a Nuclear Engineer in ISOLDE's Beam Dump Replacement Project! 

If you're enthusiastic about advancing nuclear engineering and would like to work in a collaborative, supportive team environment, we'd love to hear from you.

We are looking for a skilled Nuclear Engineer or a related field professional to join our team on the ISOLDE Beam Dumps Replacement and Sustainability (IBDRS) project.

About ISOLDE and IBDRS Project:

The ISOLDE facility at CERN is a world leader in Radioactive Ion Beams (RIBs) research and known globaly for its pioneering contributions. With its infrastructure dating back to the early 1990s, ISOLDE now requires essential upgrades to maintain its safety, reliability, and research excellence. The IBDRS project focusing on dismantling existing beam dumps and replacing them with devices and infrasructures preparing the facility for the future. This project offers an exceptional opportunity to work on complex technical upgrades at CERN, providing contributors with valuable experience.

Learn more about the ISOLDE facility at CERN: https://isolde.cern/

Learn more about the IBDRS project: https://edms.cern.ch/document/3193521/1

Your role and responsibilities

As a Nuclear Engineer on this project, your role will be to support the Project Leader (PL) and Work Package Leaders (WPLs) throughout the preparation and execution phases, gaining hands-on experience with both technical and organizational tasks.

This position offers a balanced mix of engineering, on-the-ground collaboration & documentation allowing you to develop skills across multiple aspects of nuclear engineering and project management.

Key responsibilities during the project preparation phase:

• Nuclear engineering and coordination: Collaborate with WPLs to design workflows and strategies for radioactive waste management, dismantling tasks, and radioactive equipment installation;
• Engineering design: Collaborate with and provide engineering support to the various WPs for the engineering design of the beam dump and dump's safety enclosures;
• Safety and risk assessment: Assist in conducting radiological risk assessments in partnership with the radiation protection team, ensuring contamination controls and protective measures meet safety standards;
• Documentation: Prepare essential documents, supporting clear communication and accurate tracking of radiological risks and project status.

Key responsibilities during the execution phase: 

• Dismantling preparatory tests and coordination:
  • Assist work package leaders in coordinating the preparation of dismantling mock-up tests, including step-by-step validation of dismantling sequences;
  • Facilitate the organization of mock-up tests in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, such as handling, civil engineering, safety, and robotics teams;
  • Prepare detailed reports on mock-up tests and update the final dismantling sequences accordingly;
• Engineering support:
  • Collaborate with and provide engineering support to the various WPs for the procurement, production and assemblies of the new beam dumps and enclosure;
  • Support on the on-site installation of the dump enclosure and beam dumps

Documenting lessons learnt:

• Support the Return of Experience (REX) processes by capturing insights and lessons learnt during the project.
• Operational follow-up:
  • Engineering commissioning: Collaborate with and provide engineering support to the various WPs for off-line commissionning of the beam dump.
  • Document off-line beam dumps tests and non conformities. Help to prepare the final beam commissionning.

More information here: https://cerncourier.com/a/intercepting-the-beams/

Your profile

Skills

• Skills and Qualifications:
• Education: Master's degree in Nuclear Engineering or a related field
• Experience: Ideally 2 or 3 years of operational experience in a nuclear-related project
• Software tools: knowledge of 3D modelling software (such as CATIA or Inventor)
• Safety Awareness: Understanding of radiological safety principles and willingness to adhere to CERN's ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) guidelines.
• Communication Skills: Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders from diverse technical backgrounds.
• Team-Oriented Mindset: A collaborative approach and willingness to learn in a supportive, inclusive team environment.
• Fluent in English or French. CERN is supporting language courses as required.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State .
• You have a professional background in Engineering (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.

Additional Information

Job closing date: 15th of December at 23:59 (midnight) CET.

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

Target start date: 01-February-2025

This position involves:

• Work in Radiation Areas.
• Interventions in underground installations.
• A valid driving licence.

Job reference: SY-STI-TCD-2024-201-GRAP

Field of work: Applied Physics

What we offer

• A monthly stipend ranging between 6212 and 6828 Swiss Francs per month (net of tax).
• Coverage by CERN's comprehensive health scheme (for yourself, your spouse and children), and membership of the CERN Pension Fund.
• Depending on your individual circumstances: installation grant; family, child and infant allowances; payment of travel expenses at the beginning and end of contract.
• 30 days of paid leave per year.
• On-the-job and formal training at CERN as well as in-house language courses for English and/or French.

About us

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. Using the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments, they study the basic constituents of matter - fundamental particles that are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives physicists clues about how particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature. Find out more on http://home.cern.

We are on a Quest. A Journey into discovery like no other. Bring your expertise to our unique work and develop your knowledge and skills at pace. Join world-class subject matter experts on unique projects, in a Quest for greater knowledge and deeper understanding.

Begin your CERN Quest. Take Part!

Diversity has been an integral part of CERN's mission since its foundation and is an established value of the Organization. Employing a diverse workforce is central to our success.