DevOps Engineer for Data Management (IT-SD-DMS-2026-55-GRAP)

The CERN IT Storage and Data Management group (IT-SD) operates the core services used by LHC and non-LHC experiments to store and manage their data, to enable data archival, reconstruction and analysis and to distribute them to archiving and computing facilities around the world (Worldwide LHC Computing Grid). The group also contributes to data management services operated in the LHC experiments.

As successful candidate you will work on Rucio, which is an open source data management platform that has been adopted by two major LHC experiments at CERN (ATLAS and CMS) and also by a handful of Small and Medium Experiments (SHiP, AMS02).

Specifically, you will work on a project that allows better integration between Rucio and the services provided by the CERN IT department, in particular, you will work on the implementation and operation of the Rucio Open Data interfaces. Open Data is part of CERN's Open Science mission to make research data publicly available and to empower citizens around the world to explore data produced by the LHC.

Your responsibilities

• Develop software in Python for the Rucio project and CERN IT services, integrating and interfacing with distributed storage systems.
• High-level operations of Linux-based machines and Kubernetes clusters, and large-scale data management systems.
• Participate in Operations team, focused on infrastructure, incident response and user support.
• Develop Authentication mechanism to export data for Open Science.
• Integration of Rucio with Open Data Portals.
• Design new APIs and contribute to upstream Rucio project.

Your profile

• Software Development tasks (mostly in Python).
• Comfortable wrestling with Linux systems, both in baremetal and container environments (Kubernetes).
• Demonstrated experience using Git.
• Demonstrated experience working in teams.

Skills

• Programming languages: Python (required), Go (bonus).
• Proficiency in Web frameworks (for example Flask) and the REST API design.
• Linux system administration.
• Containers and K8s (required), Helm charts (bonus).
• Spoken and written English, with a commitment to learn French.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• You have a professional background in MSc or PhD in Computing (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.

Job closing date: 01.04.2026 at 23:59 CEST.

Contract duration: 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.

Job flexibility: Hybrid

Target start date: 01-June-2026

This position involves:

• Stand-by duty, when required by the needs of the Organisation.

Job reference: IT-SD-DMS-2026-55-GRAP

Field of work: Software Engineering and IT

Benchmark job: 200020 - Computing Engineer

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.

Overview of CERN - Discover a world where the impossible is made possible!

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, we are pushing the frontiers of science and technology. Our groundbreaking work brings together not only physicists but also a diverse range of professionals from engineering, technical, scientific, and administrative fields. Together, we foster an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive.

Every day, we face exciting new challenges and opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge research that shapes our understanding of the universe. We meet these challenges through the diverse perspectives within our teams, ensuring every contribution is valued and driving our shared sense of inclusion and purpose. Diversity is a core value of CERN since its foundation, and it remains central to our mission and continued success.

If you are ready to be part of a dynamic, inclusive community pushing the boundaries of knowledge, CERN is the place where your curiosity and skills can thrive. Be part of our mission to uncover what lies at the heart of the universe! TAKE PART!

More information about us, here: careers.cern