Hardware Support Engineer (IT-FCS-HP-2026-192-GRAE)
Join the team supporting server technologies in the OpenLab heterogeneous architectures testbed.
Overview
Join the team supporting server technologies in the OpenLab heterogeneous architectures testbed.
You have:
- Proven experience with computer systems including BIOS/UEFI, x86/Arm processor architectures and virtualization.
- Experience with management and monitoring protocols like IPMI/Redfish, SMART and SNMP.
- Extensive experience with Linux and shell scripting.
- Demonstrated experience with Python.
- Ability to work in French would be an advantage.
- Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.
Contract
This is a Entry Level contract. More about Entry Level contracts.
Job Description
Passionate about hardware technology and providing support for scientific communities? Join the team in the Fabric and Communication Systems (FCS) group responsible for operating and supporting a wide range of server technologies in the openlab heterogeneous architectures testbed. As a key team member, your responsibilities will include maintaining and upgrading existing server technologies, providing support to scientific communities, debugging system issues, and installing/configuring new technologies.
Your responsibilities
As a successful candidate you will:
- Maintain the existing servers, ensuring optimal performance through regular maintenance and upgrades.
- Support scientific communities: provide assistance and support to end-users, addressing queries and resolving issues.
- Debug system issues: identify and resolve issues promptly to minimise downtime.
- Install and configure new technologies: play a key role in integrating new server technologies into the openlab heterogeneous architectures testbed.
Additional opportunities include:
- Interact on a regular basis with industry partners and be exposed to novel technologies.
- Organise topic-oriented workshops.
Your profile
- Proven experience with computer systems (BIOS/UEFI, x86/Arm processor architectures and virtualisation, memory, GPU computing), interconnects (Ethernet, Infiniband) and types of storage drives (S-ATA, SAS, NVMe).
- Experience with management and monitoring protocols such as, but not limited to, IPMI / Redfish, SMART and SNMP.
- Extensive experience with Linux and shell scripting.
- Demonstrated experience with Python.
Skills
Skills and/or knowledge:
- Server hardware.
- Python.
- Shell scripting.
- Linux system administration.
Additional assets:
- Familiarity with performance profiling and optimisation of applications.
- Demonstrating the ability to perform performance-oriented debugging.
- Proficiency (or willingness to rapidly acquire it) in utilising software configuration management tools, such as Puppet or Ansible.
- The ability to work in French would be an advantage.
- Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.
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 Computer Science / Computer Engineering (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: 10.08.2026 at 23:59 CEST.
Contract duration: 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.
Working hours: 40 hours per week
Job flexibility: Hybrid
Target start date: 01-October-2026
This position involves:
- A valid driving licence.
Job reference: IT-FCS-HP-2026-192-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!
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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!
More information about us, here: careers.cern
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe your experience with server technologies and how you've maintained them? | This question assesses your hands-on experience with server maintenance and your technical background. | Provide specific examples of server technologies you've worked with and the actions you've taken to ensure their optimal performance. |
| How do you approach debugging a system issue? | The interviewer wants to understand your problem-solving process and troubleshooting skills. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What scripts have you written in shell scripting and how did they improve efficiency? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Explain a situation where you provided support to a scientific community. What challenges did you face? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What is your experience with performance profiling and optimization of applications? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Discuss your experience with management and monitoring protocols. Which ones are you most familiar with? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How would you handle a situation where a new technology needs to be integrated into existing systems? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you tell us about a time when you had to learn a new technology quickly? How did you handle it? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
Added 14 days ago
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Updated 5 hours ago
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Source:
careers.cern
