Embedded Software Engineer – White Rabbit Collaboration

About the role

Join the Electronics Design and Low‑Level Software section of CERN’s Control Electronics and Mechatronics group and work on the White Rabbit Collaboration, a sub‑nanosecond synchronisation technology used worldwide. You will develop and maintain the software and firmware that run on White Rabbit switches and PTP cores, supporting thousands of deployments.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and maintain embedded Linux software and bare‑metal firmware for the WR Switch and WR PTP Core.
• Manage Git repositories, conduct code reviews and support CI pipelines.
• Create and maintain tools for automated calibration, testing and production validation of WR devices.
• Assist in designing post‑manufacturing production tests.
• Provide technical support to global users and partners.
• Participate in conferences and outreach events to promote White Rabbit technology.
• Collaborate with hardware teams on co‑design of HDL, firmware, Linux drivers and host applications.

Required profile

• Experience with embedded Linux distributions on AMD/Xilinx FPGA SoCs.
• Ability to work with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes and perform hardware debugging.
• Fluent written and spoken English; willingness to learn French.
• Eligibility: national of a CERN Member or Associate State, maximum two years professional experience after a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, and no prior CERN contract.

Required skills

• Low‑level C programming (bare‑metal).
• Embedded Linux and Linux device driver development.
• Git‑based development, merge requests and CI pipelines.
• Python scripting.
• Testing frameworks (e.g., PyTest) – advantageous.
• Basic FPGA development (VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog) – advantageous.
• Understanding of PCB schematics – advantageous.
• Knowledge of networking and synchronisation protocols such as NTP and PTP – advantageous.

What we offer

• Fixed‑term contract of 24 months, extendable up to 36 months.
• Full‑time position (40 hours per week) on CERN premises.
• Opportunity to work on a globally recognised technology platform.