CERN’s main mission is to uncover what the universe is made of and how it works. CERN surveyors have the task of positioning the elements of accelerators and detectors to sub-millimeter precision, including those of the LHC (Large Hadron Collider). The LHC is the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator.
From 2026, the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (High-Luminosity LHC) project will be implemented in order to improve the performance of the LHC to increase the potential for discoveries. In terms of alignment, it will be necessary to align the components of the accelerator with a precision of a few tens of microns on the 200 meters of each side of two machine detectors (ATLAS and CMS detectors). A total of over 60 components were involved.
In order to achieve such a challenging alignment, different families of sensors (monitoring system) and technologies will be used: Wire Positioning Sensors (WPS), Hydrostatic Levelling Sensors (HLS), Frequency Scanning Interferometer (FSI), etc. A total of nearly 1000 sensors will be installed.
Prior to this installation in 2026, it was decided to install 6 components of the HL-LHC project in a building under conditions as similar as possible to the operational ones. This installation, called String Test, will start in 2024 and will constitute a test of an important part of the powering system upgrade. The entire alignment system will be installed in this facility which represents nearly 150 sensors.

You will contribute to:

• The validation of the different sensors before the installation on the String Test;
• The installation and surveying of the String Test;
• The preparation, installation and commissioning of the monitoring system.

The skills and/or technologies you should have and/or know:

• Theoretical and practical knowledge of high-precision survey methods and tools;
• Knowledge of programming techniques and languages would be an advantage: in particular, object-oriented languages and numeric platforms like Python, Matlab;
• Preparation of mathematical models and algorithms.

Language requirements: fluency in English, the ability to work in French would be an advantage.

This job requires:

• 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.