Industrial Controls Technician (EN-EL-CBS-2026-187-GRAE)

CERN seeks an Entry Level Industrial Controls Technician to support the HL-LHC electrical distribution network in Geneva. The role focuses on SCADA systems, industrial controls, and contractor supervision for the Electrical Engineering Group.

This position belongs to the Electrical Engineering Group and serves as an Electrical Controls Technical Engineer. The primary purpose is to manage industrial control systems and SCADA infrastructure, specifically supporting the supervision of the electrical distribution network for the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC).

Responsibilities

• Install and commission industrial controls hardware, including WAGO remote I/O stations, switches, timeservers, and protocol gateways, alongside related electrical equipment.
• Configure SCADA platforms and data acquisition systems.
• Prepare technical documentation for patch-panel cabling and remote I/O station wiring.
• Supervise contractor personnel regarding on-site cabling and installation tasks.
• Coordinate with contractor technicians to manage on-site activities.
• Diagnose and troubleshoot faults in controls equipment and communication buses.
• Produce necessary technical documentation and reports.

Requirements

• Practical experience in installing and commissioning industrial controls equipment.
• Ability to execute and supervise signal cabling and perform functional testing.
• Skills in troubleshooting controls hardware faults.
• Hands-on knowledge of industrial communication protocols, including Modbus TCP/IP, IEC 60870-5-104, and IEC-61850, for setup and debugging.
• Capability to coordinate contractors for work-site and data engineering tasks.
• Practical understanding of basic electrical wiring, reading electrical schematics, and using multimeters.
• Nationality of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• No more than two years of professional experience since graduation in Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Highest educational qualification is a general secondary education diploma.
• No prior CERN fellow or graduate contracts.
• Possession of a valid driving licence.

What the company offers

• A monthly tax-free stipend of 4,687 Swiss Francs.
• 30 days of paid annual leave plus a two-week annual closure period.
• Coverage under CERN’s comprehensive health insurance scheme for the employee, spouse, and children, along with membership in the CERN Pension Fund.
• Monthly allowances for family, children, and infants, subject to individual circumstances.
• Relocation support, including an installation grant and travel expenses, based on personal situation.
• Access to on-the-job and formal training, including language classes.

About the company

CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research, dedicated to pushing the frontiers of science and technology. The organization fosters an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive, with diversity remaining a core value since its foundation and central to its mission and continued success.

• Pushing the frontiers of science and technology.
• Fostering an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive.
• Diversity is a core value central to the mission and continued success.