Thin Film Materials Scientist

The Thin Film Materials Scientist will contribute to the development of coating systems, thin-film materials and plasma-based surface treatments, focusing on applications related to superconducting radiofrequency cavities and adjacent technologies. The role involves deposition of superconductive films, plasma diagnostics, materials characterisation, and design of sputtering systems within CERN's Vacuum, Surfaces and Coatings Group.

Responsibilities

• Deposit superconductive (thin) films onto various copper substrates (1.3 GHz, 400 MHz, 800 MHz cavities) via HiPIMS.
• Perform plasma-based surface treatment for cleaning and surface passivation/functionalisation.
• Perform in situ plasma diagnostics for process R&D (e.g. mass spectrometry, OES, Langmuir probe).
• Perform materials characterisation and data analysis (e.g. SEM, XRD, XRF, profilometry).
• Investigate the use of a dielectric barrier as a method for suppressing thermoelectric currents.
• Commission and operate a movable cathode sputtering system for 1.3 GHz cavities.
• Contribute to the design of new sputtering systems.
• Prepare coating systems within a cleanroom environment.

Requirements

• You are a national of a CERN Member State or Associate Member State (excluding Pakistani, Lithuanian, Latvian, Cypriot and Croatian nationals due to ceiling limits).
• By the application deadline, you have a master’s degree with 2 to 6 years of professional experience since graduation or a PhD with a maximum of 3 years of professional experience since graduation.
• You are not eligible with only a bachelor’s degree.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
• Practical laboratory experience in plasma-based thin film deposition, particularly HiPIMS.
• Practical experience working with UHV systems.
• Planning and executing experimental work, troubleshooting equipment or process issues, and analysing characterisation data to support coating development and optimisation.
• Preparing technical procedures, documenting experimental methods and results, and contributing to safe, reproducible laboratory practices.
• Working in a dynamic technical environment.
• Participating in technical meetings, seminars, and project discussions, sharing findings and communicating technical information within and outside the organisation.
• Using plasma diagnostic techniques in the context of thin film fabrication would be an advantage.
• Experience working in a cleanroom would be an advantage.
• Experience performing Rietveld refinement would be an advantage.
• Your studies focused on Materials Science or related fields.
• A valid driving licence.

Skills

• Plasma-based thin film deposition
• HiPIMS
• UHV systems
• Experimental planning
• Equipment Troubleshooting
• Characterisation data analysis
• Technical procedure preparation
• Laboratory documentation
• Safe laboratory practices
• Plasma diagnostic techniques
• Cleanroom experience
• Rietveld refinement
• Material Science
• Thin film fabrication
• Sputtering system design

Languages

English, French