RF Plasma Engineer

Your responsibilities:

The Vacuum, Surfaces and Coatings (VSC) Group in CERN's Technology Department is responsible for the full lifecycle of accelerator vacuum systems: from development and design to installation, operation and maintenance. The group also operates state-of-the-art facilities for thin film coating, surface finishing, and the physical and chemical characterisation of vacuum-related materials and technologies.

In addition, the VSC group develops plasma sources for specialised coating applications and for novel accelerator concepts, such as plasma wakefield acceleration (PWFA). Within this framework, a dedicated R&D programme is advancing plasma source technology for the AWAKE project, focusing on highly uniform and reproducible plasmas.

As an Applied Physicist, you will:

• Develop and optimise a length-scalable RF plasma source (helicon plasma at 13.56 MHz), operating with multiple antennas in parallel.
• Design, upgrade and scale hardware up to 2.5 m: RF generators, antenna design, matching networks, magnetic field coils, vacuum tubes, and plasma power coupling.
• Adapt and develop plasma diagnostics (temporal and spatial), in collaboration with external institutes.
• Contribute to the development of millimetre-wave/THz plasma diagnostics (cut-off, interferometry, etc.) for density monitoring.
• Engage actively with the AWAKE and wider PWFA community through meetings, workshops and publications.

Your profile:

Skills:

• Solid knowledge of cold plasma physics.
• Hands-on experience in the design of cold plasma sources, particularly RF and helicon plasmas.
• Practical experience with plasma diagnostics (e.g. interferometry, optical emission spectroscopy).
• Familiarity with the operation of vacuum systems and associated measurement techniques.
• Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• You have a professional background in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering/RF, Plasma 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.

Job closing date: at  23:59 CEST (republished until at 23:59 CET).

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

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Target start date: 01-February-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 electromagnetic fields under certain exposure conditions.

Given the occupational health risks associated with this position, the selected candidate must obtain medical clearance before a contract offer is confirmed.

Job reference: TE-VSC-SCC 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

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

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.

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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.