Detector Safety Physicist (EP-ATL-SO-2026-148-GRAP)

As a Detector Safety Physicist, you will become part of a small multidisciplinary team responsible for the Detector Safety System (DSS) of the ATLAS experiment.

You will be in charge of the upgrade, commissioning, and definition of the safety systems for the new ATLAS sub-detectors, while contributing to the upgrade of the detector infrastructure for Run 4 operation.

This position offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced graduate to gain hands-on experience with applied electronics projects and contribute to large-scale industrial infrastructures in a cutting-edge technological environment.

Your responsibilities:

• Lead the Detector Safety System (DSS) testing and commissioning activities with different sub-systems.
• Monitor the installation of cables used for signals exchanged between the DSS and the different sub-systems.
• Design safety matrices for new sub-systems in collaboration with safety and detector experts.
• Improve monitoring systems in the ATLAS galleries, including water leak detection systems.
• Upgrade central infrastructure components in the ATLAS galleries.
• Participate in the regular maintenance of fire, evacuation, gas, and Oxygen Deficiency Hazard (ODH) safety systems.
• Follow up on and present the progress of work carried out by the DSS team to the ATLAS Safety and Technical Coordination teams.
• This role includes team supervision responsibilities.

Your profile:

• Experience with safety system chains, including analogue and digital sensors, alarms, and interlocks.
• Experience in the wiring and testing of Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) systems.
• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols, such as I²C and SPI.
• Experience with electrical and thermal matching of components to circuit board requirements.
• Experience in the development, manufacturing, and assembly of electronic boards.
• Experience operating detector systems in a large-scale collaborative environment.

Skills:

• Ability to follow procedures and remain calm in stressful situations.
• Strong teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams of scientists and engineers.
• Familiarity with WinCC OA or similar SCADA systems, as well as OPC UA servers.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to convey research findings clearly.
• Practical knowledge of Python software development would be an advantage.
• Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• You have a professional background in Applied Physics (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.