DevOps Engineer for Data Management

Job Description

We are looking for a passionate DevOps Engineer to join the CERN IT Storage and Data Management group (IT-SD).

Our group operates the core services used by LHC and non-LHC experiments to store and manage their data, to enable data archival, reconstruction and analysis and to distribute them to archiving and computing facilities around the world (Worldwide LHC Computing Grid). The group also contributes to data management services operated in the LHC experiments.

If you are excited about distributed systems, exabyte-scale data, and the future of distributed computing, this is the place for you.

You will be working on scientific data management technologies (Rucio, FTS, ...). Rucio is the facto data management platform in HEP and other sciences, managing over one exabyte of data across hundreds of data centers worldwide.

Computing power needs are evolving, especially for the HL-LHC, and researchers are increasingly relying on massive supercomputers and their capacity to run computations and AI workflows.

To support this, Rucio is expected to act as a bridge between our distributed data systems and these remote supercomputers, ensuring datasets are moved seamlessly to where the heavy processing happens, and results flow back to the scientific community.

Your responsibilities:

You will work on a project that federates massive compute and storage resources across Europe, enabling seamless cross-border scientific collaboration.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Connecting data to AI factories: Build integrations that allow large datasets to be easily accessed and utilised by next-generation European AI Factories and supercomputers.
• Building a storage federation: Design and validate systems that allow different data management platforms to communicate among themselves, ensuring transparent data access and policy-driven replication.
• Contributing to open source: Design robust new functionality and commit your code, features, and fixes directly back to the upstream Rucio project.
• Supporting the community: Actively participate in our Operations team to maintain infrastructure for EU projects and activities surrounding the Rucio service, including troubleshooting incidents and supporting our users.

Your profile:

Demonstrated experience in:

• Software development and integration (Python, scripting).
• Linux system administration, configuration and automation, both in baremetal and container environments (Kubernetes).
• Development tools (Git) and modern devops practices.
• Working in teams.

Skills:

We are looking for someone who enjoys problem-solving at scale and loves working in a collaborative, open-source environment.

• Strong Python programming and API design.
• Linux system administration and Kubernetes clusters.
• Solid understanding of large-scale data management, storage systems, or cloud environments.
• Familiarity with authentication mechanisms and secure data transfers is a big plus.
• A user-focused mindset and a willingness to jump into daily operations and user support.
• 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.
• By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Computing Engineer (or a related field) and your highest educational qualification is either a Bachelor's or Master's degree.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
• Applicants without University degree are not eligible.
• Applicants with a PhD are not eligible.

Additional Information

Job closing date: 19.08.2026 at 23:59 CEST.

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

Job flexibility: Hybrid

Target start date: 01-November-2026

This position involves:

• 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.

Job reference: IT-SD-DMS-2026-196-GRAE

Field of work: Software Engineering and IT

Benchmark job: 200020 - Computing Engineer

Global Benefits

• A monthly stipend between 5266-5793 Swiss Francs per month (tax free) depending on your degree.
• 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!

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