Mechanical Technical Engineer - Vacuum Equipment

Join CERN’s Vacuum, Surfaces and Coatings (VSC) Group to support the upgrade of critical beam vacuum systems for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). This role involves installation, testing, and commissioning of vacuum equipment essential for the LHC upgrade programme, with training provided for those new to particle accelerators.

Responsibilities

• Perform vacuum acceptance testing of baked components intended for installation in the HL-LHC collimator upgrade.
• Test and validate vacuum equipment before installation, perform residual gas analysis (RGA) ensuring it meets performance and quality requirements.
• Carry out leak tests, bake-out system installation and non-evaporable-getter (NEG) activation on vacuum components and assemblies.
• Assemble and prepare mechanical and vacuum systems for installation and operation.
• Support the installation, testing and commissioning of equipment for the LHC upgrade programme.
• Prepare technical documentation, test reports and intervention records.
• Coordinate with suppliers and support the procurement and delivery of technical components.
• Participate in maintenance, upgrade and repair activities on equipment installed in the LHC tunnel.

Requirements

• You are a national of a CERN Member State or Associate Member State, excluding Pakistani, Lithuanian, Latvian, Cypriot and Croatian nationals due to membership agreement ceilings.
• By the application deadline, you have a maximum of 2 years of professional experience since graduation in the respective field.
• Your highest educational qualification is either a bachelor’s or master’s degree; you must have a university degree and cannot hold a PhD.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
• Experience with helium leak detection methods and equipment.
• Experience with on-site vacuum system work, including mechanical installation and in-situ testing.
• Basic experience with outgassing phenomena in vacuum systems and with quadruple mass spectrometers (RGA) for residual gas analysis in UHV environments.
• Practical familiarity with techniques for achieving and maintaining ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions.
• Your studies focused on BSc in Technical and Applied Studies.
• Understanding of ultra-high vacuum (UHV) principles and fundamentals.
• Ability to analyse data from ultra-high vacuum (UHV) gauges.
• Basic knowledge on how to assemble and install UHV-compatible components and systems.
• Knowledge of helium leak detector use and ability to perform leak testing and interpret results.
• Ability to prepare, update, and manage technical documentation.
• Spoken and written English or French, with a commitment to learn the basics of the other language.
• A valid driving licence.
• Willingness to work in radiation areas and interventions in underground installations.

Skills

• Helium leak detection
• Vacuum System Installation
• In-situ Vacuum Testing
• Outgassing Analysis
• Residual Gas Analysis
• Ultra-High Vacuum Techniques
• UHV Gauge Data Analysis
• UHV Component Assembly
• Technical Documentation Production
• Radiation area work
• Mechanical Installations
• Vacuum Equipment Commissioning
• Driving License

Languages

English, French