Research

ATLAS Detector Installation Technician - European Organization for Nuclear Research (Geneva)

Contract Type Other

About this position

The summary below is published by European Organization for Nuclear Research on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

The EP-ATL-PO section plays a key role in the upgrade and maintenance of the ATLAS detector at the LHC. As a Junior Mechanical Technician, you will support experienced colleagues in mechanical installation and integration activities on the detector and its infrastructure during Long Shutdown 3 (LS3), while gaining hands-on experience in a cutting-edge experimental physics environment.

**Your responsibilities:**

* Participate in large-scale ATLAS detector movements in the experimental cavern and in the installation of access platforms. * Support sub-detector installation activities, including handling, transport, and positioning using appropriate lifting and alignment techniques. * Prepare and set up work areas and tooling, and provide logistical support for detector interventions. * Read and interpret mechanical drawings, perform basic dimensional checks, and report progress to supervising engineers. * When required, manufacture parts and tooling using conventional machining techniques, such as drilling, milling, and turning.

**Your profile:**

* Initial hands-on experience in mechanical assembly, fitting, or maintenance. * Ability to read and interpret…

Excerpt shown; read the full notice on the official page. The structured breakdown below covers the key facts.

Contract and working arrangements

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

Position details

Reference
EP-ATL-PO-2026-178-GRAE
Last Verified
23 July 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for ATLAS Detector Installation Technician at CERN based in Geneva (Other). The vacancy reference is EP-ATL-PO-2026-178-GRAE. The role falls under the Research domain.

The EP-ATL-PO section plays a key role in the upgrade and maintenance of the ATLAS detector at the LHC. As a Junior Mechanical Technician, you will support experienced colleagues in mechanical installation and integration activities on the detector and its infrastructure during Long Shutdown 3 (LS3), while gaining hands-on experience in a cutting-edge experimental physics environment.

Your responsibilities:

* Participate in large-scale ATLAS detector movements in the experimental cavern and in the installation of access platforms. * Support sub-detector installation activities, including handling, transport, and positioning using appropriate lifting and alignment techniques. * Prepare and set up work areas and tooling, and provide logistical support for detector interventions. * Read and interpret mechanical drawings, perform basic dimensional checks, and report progress to supervising engineers. * When required, manufacture parts and tooling using conventional machining techniques, such as drilling, milling, and turning.

Your profile:

* Initial hands-on experience in mechanical assembly, fitting, or maintenance. * Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, blueprints, and 2D/3D CAD models. * Initial experience with conventional machining techniques and workshop practices. * Basic metrology skills, including the use of calipers, gauges, and dimensional inspection tools. * Awareness of occupational health and safety principles in workshop and industrial environments.

Skills:

* Follow technical procedures, assembly instructions, and work specifications. * Use of standard hand and power tools for mechanical operations. * Strong teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate in an international and multidisciplinary environment. * Rigorous, detail-oriented, and safety-conscious approach to work. * Accurately document completed work and maintain high quality standards while following technical procedures and safety requirements. * Spoken and written English or French, with a commitment to learn the basics of the other language.

Eligibility criteria:

* You are a national of a [CERN Member or Associate Member State](https://home.cern/about/member-states). * By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent (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:30.07.2026 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-November-2026

This position involves:

* Work in Radiation Areas. * Interventions in underground installations. * A valid driving licence. * Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization. * 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-ATL-PO-2026-178-GRAE

Field of work: Mechanical Engineering

Benchmark job: 300090 - Mechanical Technician

Global Benefits

* A monthly stipend of 4687 Swiss Francs per month (tax free). * 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](https://careers.cern/)

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 20 July 2026, 2 days ago.

No closing date is published in the source feed for this position. EU vacancies typically remain open for four to eight weeks; check the official vacancy notice for the cut-off date and time.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 23 July 2026.

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at CERN see the CERN institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Geneva see our Geneva location page; for related vacancies in the Research field browse our Research domain page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.

Career trajectory

Career progression for this grade staff is governed by Articles 44 to 46 of the Staff Regulations (consolidated text on EUR-Lex) and Annex IB on the promotion procedure. Step increases are automatic every two years (Art. 44); grade promotion is competitive, based on the appraisal exercise (Art. 45) and the Career Development Review. For roles at CERN, progression to the next grade typically takes three to five years on merit, with two-yearly step increases in between. Article 46 governs the classification at recruitment, which sets the starting step within the grade (usually step 1 for external recruits without prior EU service, step 2 or 3 where relevant professional experience is recognised).
Mobility within the institutions is encouraged via the inter-institutional and intra-institutional vacancy publication system: temporary agents who pass the probation period and reservists from EPSO laureate lists can typically apply to internal vacancies after one year of service. Lateral moves between Directorates-General reset the seniority clock for promotion only if the new post carries a different grade.

Language profile

Beyond the formal language requirements stated in the vacancy notice, the day-to-day working languages at this employer are English and French in roughly equal measure, with German appearing in some technical files. Internal meetings and most policy drafting in Brussels run in English; French remains the preferred internal language in Luxembourg-based services and parts of DG TRADE.

Application cadence

CERN has not advertised another comparable role with the same grade and Research signature in the past twenty-four months. This opening has rarely been seen on the EU Careers feed and may be the first such posting in our two-year window. Applicants who pass the eligibility checks should not assume the same profile will reopen on a predictable cadence.

Source: This job listing was sourced from the official EU Careers portal (EPSO). First published: .

Remove ads and unlock all features Go Premium