Graduate Geotechnical Engineer - Future Circular Collider

About the role

CERN is looking for a graduate geotechnical engineer to join the civil engineering team working on the Future Circular Collider (FCC) at CERN. You will support the site investigations campaign (about 100 deep boreholes), including project management, permitting and stakeholder engagement, and the design studies for the underground and surface civil engineering infrastructure. The ideal start date is 1 February 2027, on a 24-month hybrid contract.

Key responsibilities

• Support the site investigations project manager with site-based and office work for planning, execution and reporting of the campaign.
• Assist with design reviews of tunnels, shafts, caverns and surface structures, checking consultant deliverables against the brief, design codes and CERN requirements.
• Support geotechnical calculations and analyses, and help assess construction methods such as TBM and conventional excavation.
• Contribute to the geotechnical and hydrogeological risk register and to options studies for alignment and site layout.
• Support cost estimates, construction schedules and quantity take-offs for the civil works.
• Translate site investigation findings into design parameters and geotechnical baseline information.
• Prepare technical notes, drawing mark-ups and presentation material for internal reviews, committees and public engagement.
• Liaise with other CERN groups (integration, survey, cooling and ventilation, safety, etc.) on interfaces with the civil works.

Required profile

• Master's degree with 2 to 6 years of professional experience since graduation, or a PhD with a maximum of 3 years; a bachelor's degree alone is not eligible.
• Never held a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
• National of a CERN Member State or Associate Member State (Pakistani, Lithuanian, Latvian, Cypriot, Croatian and Turkish applicants are excluded).
• Valid driving licence.

Required skills

• Strong academic background in geotechnical engineering and solid fundamentals in soil and rock mechanics.
• First experience in a consultancy or contractor specialising in geotechnical works, surface or underground.
• Basic experience of geotechnical modelling and familiarity with GIS and geotechnical data management.
• Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

What we offer

• A monthly net stipend of 6,372 or 7,004 Swiss Francs depending on degree and post-graduation experience.
• 30 days of paid leave per year plus 2 weeks annual closure.
• Health insurance covering yourself, spouse and children, and membership of the CERN Pension Fund.
• Family, child and infant monthly allowances, and a relocation package depending on circumstances.
• Option to extend the contract up to 36 months, plus on-the-job and formal training including language classes.