Applied Physicist for Sc Thin Films

**Job Description** Your responsibilities**

The Vacuum, Surfaces and Coatings (VSC) Group within the Technology (TE) Department is responsible for the entire lifecycle of accelerator vacuum systems at CERN, from development and design to installation, operation, and maintenance. We operate facilities for the measurement of vacuum performance and compatibilities of materials and surface technologies, as well as for thin film coating, surface finishing, and vacuum-related physical and chemical characterization.

These activities are in-line with the needs of the FCC-ee study, for which we need to lower the surface resistance of Nb thin films when used in radiofrequency regime.

As an Applied Physicist, your main activities will consist of:

- Performing Nb thin films coatings onto various type of Cu based accelerating cavities (1.3GHz, 400MHz, 800MHz) by using the HiPIMS technique.
- Performing XRD quantitative data analysis.
- Studying the effect of different discharge gases onto the RF surface resistance of Nb using HiPIMS.
- Investigating the use of a dielectric barrier as a method for suppressing thermoelectric currents during SRF cavities cooldown.
- Commissioning and operating a moveable cathode sputtering system for 1.3GHz cavities.
- Commissioning, operating and optimizing a sputtering system for 2-cells 400MHz cavities.
- Delivering 400MHz prototype cavities aligned with FCC-ee RF specifications.

**Your profile**

**Skills**:

- Demonstrated experience with using the HiPIMS coating technique.
- Experience with superconducting thin film elaboration on accelerating cavities.
- Experience with X-ray diffraction data analysis using Rietveld refinement.
- Experienced with Ultra High Vacuum systems.
- Experienced with assemblies in cleanroom environment.
- 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.
- You have a professional background in Material Science, Engineering, 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.

**Additional Information**
Job closing date**:15.07.2025 at 23:59 CEST.**

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

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Target start date: 01-October-2025

This position involves:

- A valid driving licence.
- Stand-by duty, when required by the needs of the Organization.
- Use of certain mobile work equipment or equipment used for lifting loads (lifting equipment, bridge cranes, aerial work platforms, etc.) requiring a driving authorization.

Job reference: TE-VSC-SCC-2025-103-GRAP

Field of work: Applied Physics

**What we offer**
- A monthly stipend ranging between **6287** and 6911** 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**

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._