Software Engineer for Data Distribution (IT-SD-PDS-2023-140-GRAP)

Your responsibilities

CERN’s Storage and Data Management Group (IT-SD) is responsible for enabling data access for the laboratory and most notably for long-term archive, preservation and distribution of the LHC data to a worldwide scientific community. Today we deliver more than 4 Exabyte of data per year, we orchestrate yearly more than 1 Exabyte of data across the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG) with the File Transfer Service (FTS) and we operate a heterogeneous disk/tape system, with several large disk farms. In total the group handles more than 1 Exabyte of raw disk storage.

CERN’s storage systems are continuously evolved to adapt to changing users’ and experiments’ needs with respect to functionality and performance and to further reduce their operational costs at CERN and in its partner institutions.

You will join the activities of the Physics Data Services section: Storage operations, data distribution and data management. As a Software Engineer for data distribution and storage, in the context of the European Project "EOSC Beyond", you will design, develop and integrate core transfers and storage services, primarily leveraging on the File Transfer Service (FTS) developed and operated by the group. This enhanced FTS service will be used to integrate the Core Execution Framework and enhance the composability and interoperability of cross-domain data, services and tools. You will also be involved in storage and data services development and operations in a larger team, as required by the work programme.

In addition you will maintain and improve service documentation (procedures, regular reports, incident analysis and user documentation) and contribute actively to the evolution of the CERN data management and transfer services.

Your profile

Skills and/or knowledge

• In-depth experience in object-oriented software design and development in C++.
• Practical experience with development, testing and debugging of distributed systems.
• Practical experience with scripting languages (Python, Shell Scripting, others).
• Experience in system administration and software design in Linux.

Eligibility criteria:

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

Job closing date: December 25 at 12:00 AM (midnight) CET.

Job reference: IT-SD-PDS-2023-140-GRAP

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

Target start date: 01-April-2024

This position requires:

• Participation in a regular stand-by duty, including nights, Sundays and official holidays.
• Stand-by duty, when required by the needs of the Organization.
• Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization.

What we offer

• A monthly stipend ranging between 6194 and 6808 Swiss Francs per month (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.

We are on a Quest. A Journey into discovery like no other. Bring your expertise to our unique work and develop your knowledge and skills at pace. Join world-class subject matter experts on unique projects, in a Quest for greater knowledge and deeper understanding.

Begin your CERN Quest. Take Part!

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.