Engineering

Industrial Controls 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.

We are looking for an Electrical Controls Technical Engineer focused on industrial control systems and SCADA infrastructure in an electrical engineering environment. You would support the installation, engineering, cabling, configuration, commissioning, and maintenance of electrical control and monitoring systems used to supervise CERN electrical distribution network for HL-LHC . Typical equipment includes power and signal converters, network switches, Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), remote input/output units, communication buses and field devices.

As Electrical Controls technician in the Electrical Engineering Group, you will actively contribute to the installation, engineering, cabling and commissioning of controls equipment, including power and signal converters, network switches, remote acquisition units and terminal units required for the supervision of electrical equipment, as part of a SCADA system for the supervision of the CERN electrical power network. The job will also require coordination of contractor technicians for on-site activities, diagnosis and troubleshooting of controls equipment and communication bus faults, production of relevant technical documentation and…

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

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

  • Installation and commissioning of industrial controls equipment (WAGO remote I/O stations, switches, timeservers, protocol gateways)
  • Configuration of SCADA and data acquisition systems
  • Preparation of technical files for patch-panel cabling and remote I/O station wiring
  • Supervision of contractor personnel for work-site cabling and installation activities
  • Diagnosis and troubleshooting of controls equipment and communication bus faults
  • Production of relevant technical documentation and reports
  • Coordination of contractor technicians for on-site activities

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

  • Education: General secondary education diploma
  • Experience: Maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Electrical / Industrial Engineering or a related field
  • Languages: English (spoken…), French (commitm…)
  • Key skills: Installation and commissioning of industrial controls equipment, Configuration of SCADA and data acquisition systems, Execution and supervision of signal cabling and functional testing, Troubleshooting of controls hardware faults, Practical knowledge of industrial communication protocols (Modbus TCP/IP, IEC 60870-5-104, IEC-61850), Coordination of contractors for work-site and data engineering activities, Practical knowledge of basic electrical wiring and reading electrical schematics, Using multimeters, Serial or Ethernet based fieldbus troubleshooting, Basic programming of PLC systems
  • Eligibility: National of a CERN Member or Associate Member State. Never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before. Applicants with a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree are not eligible. Valid driving licence required. Interventions in underground installations involved.

Contract and working arrangements

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

Working arrangements: Fully Onsite.

Hiring unit: Electrical Engineering Group.

Position details

Reference
EN-EL-CBS-2026-187-GRAE
Last Verified
23 July 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Industrial Controls Technician at CERN based in Geneva (Other). The vacancy reference is EN-EL-CBS-2026-187-GRAE. The role falls under the Engineering domain.

We are looking for an Electrical Controls Technical Engineer focused on industrial control systems and SCADA infrastructure in an electrical engineering environment. You would support the installation, engineering, cabling, configuration, commissioning, and maintenance of electrical control and monitoring systems used to supervise CERN electrical distribution network for HL-LHC . Typical equipment includes power and signal converters, network switches, Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), remote input/output units, communication buses and field devices.

As Electrical Controls technician in the Electrical Engineering Group, you will actively contribute to the installation, engineering, cabling and commissioning of controls equipment, including power and signal converters, network switches, remote acquisition units and terminal units required for the supervision of electrical equipment, as part of a SCADA system for the supervision of the CERN electrical power network. The job will also require coordination of contractor technicians for on-site activities, diagnosis and troubleshooting of controls equipment and communication bus faults, production of relevant technical documentation and reports.

Your responsibilities:

* Installation and commissioning of industrial controls equipment (WAGO remote I/O stations, switches, timeservers, protocol gateways..) and of electrical equipment integrated in the control and supervision system. * Configuration of SCADA and data acquisition systems. * Preparation of technical files for patch-panel cabling and remote I/O station wiring. * Supervision of contractor personnel for work-site cabling and installation activities.

Your profile:

* Demonstrated practical knowledge in installation and commissioning of industrial controls equipment. * Configuration of SCADA and data acquisition systems. * Execution and supervision of signal cabling, functional testing. * Troubleshooting of controls hardware faults. * Practical knowledge of industrial communication protocols, setting and troubleshooting (e.g. Modbus TCP/IP , IEC 60870-5-104, IEC-61850...). * Coordination of contractors for work-site and data engineering activities. * Practical knowledge of basic electrical wiring, reading electrical schematics and using multimeters.

Skills:

* Knowledge of installation, engineering and testing of SCADA and acquisition systems. * Knowledge of serial or Ethernet based fieldbus troubleshooting. * Basic knowledge in programming of PLC systems. * Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

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 Electrical / Industrial 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: 02.08.2026 at 23:59 CEST.

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

Job flexibility: Fully Onsite

Target start date: 01-September-2026

This position involves:

* Interventions in underground installations. * A valid driving licence.

Job reference: EN-EL-CBS-2026-187-GRAE

Field of work: Electrical or Electronics Engineering

Benchmark job: 300040 - Electrical 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 15 July 2026, 7 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 Engineering field browse our Engineering 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 Engineering 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: .

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