Mechanical Design Technician for SHiP (EP-SME-SHP-2025-272-GRAE)

Introduction

Are you a highly motivated and versatile technician dreaming to take up a challenge at the frontiers of science? Join the central project team of the newly approved Search for Hidden Particles experiment within the CERN's Experimental Physics Department, contributing to detector component prototyping and infrastructure design.

The SHiP experiment, approved in March 2024, aims at searching for signatures of feebly interacting particles that could for instance be at the origin of neutrino mass, dark matter and associated portal interactions. SHiP will be located on the CERN SPS accelerator at a new beam dump facility. The detector will be a sophisticated instrument composed of magnets and multiple detector components, stretching over 100m in an underground experimental hall. Its operation requires complex infrastructure in terms of large-scale support structures, electrical systems, cooling systems including cryogenics.

Your responsibilities

As designer technician, you will:

• Collaborate closely with physicists and engineers, both from CERN and from collaborating institutes;
• Perform integration studies and setting up prototype tests. These activities includes the assembly set up and testing phase;
• Use CATIA V5 to prepare 3D models and 2D construction drawings storing them in the PLM system;
• Participating in the detector integration meetings and following up the Jira activity list, name scheme and technical documentation database of the overall project;
• Define the cabling layout and signal routing schemes for the detector;
• Be involved in writing technical documentations and technical specifications.

Your profile

Experience

• Experience with Catia V5 preferable and PLM. Any other CAD software could also be valid.
• Hands-on experience in mechanical systems.
• Experience with cabling and machining would be additional assets.

Skills

Technical skills:

• Production of 2D drawings and 3D models.
• Integration of mechanical systems.
• Knowledge of 2D drawings relevant standards for dimensioning and tolerances (e.g. ISO Geometrical Product Specifications, GPS).

Behavioural skills:

• Demonstrating Flexibility: adapting quickly and resourcefully to shifting priorities and requirements.
• Working in teams: effective collaboration within multi-disciplinary teams.

Language skills:

• Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Mechanical Engineering (or a related field) and your highest educational qualification is a general secondary education diploma.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
• Applicants with a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree are not eligible.

Job closing date: 20.01.2026 at 23:59 CET.

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

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Target start date: 01-March-2026

This position involves:

• Work in Radiation Areas.
• A valid driving licence.
• Exposure to risk of falling from heights during scaffolding assembly and dismantling operations.

Given the occupational health risks associated with this position, the selected candidate must obtain medical clearance before a contract offer is confirmed.

Job reference: EP-SME-SHP-2025-272-GRAE

Field of work: Mechanical Engineering

What we offer

• A monthly stipend of 4624 Swiss Francs (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.

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.