SW Developer / Experimental Physicist (EP-ATL-OSW-2026-121-GRAP)

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This CERN post places you in the ATLAS Event Filter team to explore machine learning driven track reconstruction for HL-LHC, with deployment prospects on CPUs and GPUs within an ACTS-based EF workflow as part of the Next Generation Trigger programme. You will research and benchmark ML approaches, assess physics and computational performance, and help steer team direction. Ideal candidates bring deep knowledge of tracking in high density environments, hands-on ML in physics or scientific computing, and solid C++ and Python with Git/Jira. Eligibility requires a Master’s with 2–6 years or PhD with ≤3 years postgrad, onsite Geneva, 40h/wk, 24 months (extendable to 36), deadline 17.07.2026. Apply by tailoring your CV to ML deployment results, highlighting leadership and willingness to learn French.

Job Description

The Event Filter (EF) is part of the ATLAS Trigger and Data Acquisition (TDAQ) system and consists of a multi-threaded asynchronous processing farm of commodity servers (CPUs with or without accelerators) running a subset of offline-like reconstruction algorithms together with menu-driven event selection.

The high-luminosity conditions expected during Phase-II operations introduce significant challenges for object and event reconstruction algorithms planned for the EF, particularly for track reconstruction. The recent definition of the EF farm as a heterogeneous architecture combining CPUs and GPUs opens new opportunities for deploying machine learning models within the EF tracking workflow.

You will be part of the CERN ATLAS team and will contribute to research into the application of ML techniques for track reconstruction at the HL-LHC, with the goal of identifying and exploring the most promising approaches for deployment in the ATLAS EF tracking. The position is part of the Next Generation Trigger programme.

Your responsibilities:

• Conduct research on machine learning (ML) and AI-based approaches for track reconstruction, with a focus on the applicability and performance of these methods in the high pile-up environment of the HL-LHC.
• Investigate and benchmark novel ML-based tracking algorithms and their integration into the ACTS-based EF tracking workflow.
• Contribute to studies of both physics performance and computational performance of the different configurations under study.
• This role includes team supervision responsibilities.

Your profile:

• Understanding of tracking challenges in high track density environments, such as at the High-Luminosity LHC.
• Experience in the development and application of machine learning or deep learning methods in a physics or scientific computing context.
• Hands-on experience in the development of offline and/or online reconstruction software.
• Ability to lead teams and define directions.

Skills:

• Machine learning and deep learning frameworks.
• Experience with ML inference deployment.
• Knowledge of ML model training, evaluation, and optimisation, including hyperparameter tuning and performance benchmarking.
• Programming languages: C++ and Python, including software development workflows (Git, Jira).
• Experience with large-scale scientific software frameworks (e.g. ACTS, Athena) is considered an asset.
• Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

Eligibility criteria:

• You have a professional background in PhD in Particle Physics / CS (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: 17.07.2026 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: Fully Onsite

Target start date: 01-October-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: EP-ATL-OSW-2026-121-GRAP

Field of work: Experimental Physics

Benchmark job: 200140 - Applied Physicist

Global Benefits

• A monthly stipend between 6372-7004 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.

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