Machine Learning Engineer for Next Generation Triggers (NGT) (IT-CD-PI-2026-177-LD)

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.

Introduction

You will develop and operate CERN's next-generation machine learning platform, enabling scientists and engineers to train, deploy and manage AI workloads at scale. Working with cutting-edge technologies including Kubernetes, GPUs and cloud-native tools, you will help build the infrastructure supporting machine learning for the High-Luminosity LHC.

Functions

- Develop and operate the NGT machine learning platform, covering model training, hyper-parameter optimisation and serving, targeting optimal usage of detector resources.
- Manage cluster resources, integrate new resources, on-premises or via external resources (such as clouds or HPC centers), and optimise resource usage (e.g. via CPU/GPU/RAM affinity layouts) and the existing MLOps workflows to cover deployment, observability and lifecycle management & versioning of models.
- Extend the cloud native infrastructure to support advanced workload scheduling, system monitoring & accounting, as well as prompt cost control.
- Produce and present reference architectures, documentation and best practices to support CERN users and use cases.
- Ensure efficient collaboration with other groups in `IT and in other departments, as well as constant alignment with the evolving landscape of external research and industry organisations.

Behavioural competencies

- Working in Teams: working well in groups and readily fitting into a team; participating fully and taking an active role in team activities.
- Solving Problems: addressing complex problems by breaking them down into manageable components.
- Managing Self: taking initiative beyond regular tasks and making things happen.
- Building Relationships: showing appreciation for the ideas and contributions of others and encourages others to express their views, even if controversial.

Language skills

- Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

Requirements

Master's Degree or equivalent relevant experience in the field of Computing Engineering or a related field.; Knowledge in machine learning systems, ideally with hands-on experience deployment and operating such services in production environments.; Familiarity with one or more of the following areas.; Kubernetes, containerisation, CI/CD, observability and model lifecycle management.; Experience using GPU and/or other accelerator platforms, including performance tuning and optimisation of inference workloads.; Familiarity with open-source ecosystems and willingness to contribute, evaluate upstream projects and follow community best practices.; Enthusiasm for learning new technologies and contributing to cutting-edge scientific computing is essential.; Knowledge of operating systems.; Knowledge of system configuration tools.; Architecture and design of ICT systems.; Identification and selection of relevant emerging ICT technologies.; Knowledge and application of software life-cycle tools and procedures.

Benefits

A competitive salary (tax free), increasing in line with your years of relevant experience.; 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, removal, travel expenses) depending on your individual circumstances.; Possibility to extend your contract up to 8 years + eligibility for indefinite contract tenure.