Software Developer for Control Systems (BE-ICS-STF-2026-105-GRAP)

Job Description

You will join a team that is responsible for the development and evolution of CERN's industrial control frameworks, JCOP and UNICOS, as well as for evaluating and validating new technologies for future control systems. These frameworks build on the commercial SCADA platform SIMATIC WinCC Open Architecture (WinCC OA) from Siemens, which forms the backbone of more than 800 mission-critical control systems.

Starting in a few months, the LHC detectors will undergo major upgrades requiring new control systems and additional functionality in the JCOP Framework. In this context, you will contribute to the development and evolution of the JCOP Framework and support the implementation of detector control systems.

Your responsibilities

• Contribute to the development and evolution of the JCOP Framework used by the LHC experiments.
• Implement and maintain software components, templates and tools based on WinCC OA and CERN control frameworks.
• Integrate devices into supervisory control systems.
• Design & Development of user interfaces with WinCC OA.
• Prototype and test new solutions to improve reliability, maintainability and scalability of the frameworks.
• Assist LHC experiments in the development, deployment and maintenance of their control systems.
• Participate in code reviews, debugging and troubleshooting of control system applications.

Your profile

• Experience or exposure to software development in distributed or modular systems.
• Experience with modern programming languages and development tools (e.g. C/C++ or similar).
• Knowledge of software engineering principles (version control GIT, testing, code quality, documentation, CI/CD).
• Knowledge of Qt, Node.js or TypeScript would be an advantage.
• Familiarity with industrial control systems, SCADA technologies, or CERN experiment online systems would be an advantage.

Skills

• Proficiency in C/C++ programming.
• Ability to learn and adapt to new technologies and frameworks quickly.
• Ability to design, implement and debug software components in complex systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and interact with engineers and scientists.
• Good communication and documentation skills.
• Spoken and written English or French, with a commitment to learn the other language.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State .
• You have a professional background in Software 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: 08.07.2026 at 23:59 CEST.

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-September-2026

Job reference: BE-ICS-STF-2026-105-GRAP

Field of work: Software Engineering and IT

Benchmark job: 200020 - Computing Engineer

Global Benefits

• A monthly stipend between 6372-7004 Swiss Francs per month (tax free) 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