Controls and Automation Engineer – Industrial Control Systems

About the role

CERN’s Engineering Department, Cooling and Ventilation Group, Controls Section is looking for a Controls and Automation Engineer. The role covers the full lifecycle of industrial control systems that operate the cooling and ventilation installations supporting CERN’s accelerators and experimental facilities.

Key responsibilities

• Define control system requirements and produce functional specifications for cooling and ventilation installations.
• Design, develop, test and validate PLC application software in line with EN‑CV‑CL standards and the CERN UNICOS framework.
• Configure, commission, maintain and upgrade industrial control systems throughout their lifecycle.
• Coordinate technicians, junior engineers and contractors during implementation and commissioning activities.
• Manage technical procurements, service contracts and interactions with industrial suppliers.
• Provide expert operational support and troubleshooting for cooling and ventilation control systems.

Required profile

• Master's degree or equivalent in Industrial Automation, Process Control or a related field.
• Proven experience designing, implementing and commissioning PLC‑based control systems using IEC 61131‑3 languages.
• Experience specifying hardware architectures and control strategies for industrial control systems.
• Hands‑on experience with SCADA/HMI configuration, testing, validation and troubleshooting.
• Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams, including project leaders, process engineers and operators.

Required skills

• PLC programming (IEC 61131‑3)
• Siemens PLC platform
• Schneider PLC platform
• SCADA/HMI configuration and integration
• CERN UNICOS framework
• C++ programming
• Python programming
• Adaptive, predictive and model‑based control techniques

What we offer

• Competitive tax‑free salary, increasing with relevant experience.
• 30 days of paid leave per year plus a two‑week annual closure.
• Comprehensive health‑insurance scheme for you and your family, and membership of the CERN Pension Fund.
• Family, child and infant monthly allowances where applicable.
• Relocation package covering installation grant, removal and travel expenses.