Software Engineer in Distributed Storage (EP-SFT-2026-36-GRAP)

We are offering a position in the Rucio development team at CERN. Rucio is an open-source scientific data management system responsible to manage the data of some of the biggest scientific data producers in the world. Experiments such as ATLAS, CMS, Belle II, DUNE, and many others rely on Rucio, which manages world-wide distributed data in the multi exa-byte range. The work on this post will be carried out in the context of the European "RI-SCALE Unlocking RI potential with Scalable AI and Data" project, where Rucio will be used to manage the vast datasets of multiple European research infrastructures. You will join the Rucio core development team at CERN, a dedicated group of software engineers and computer scientists who work on the frontier of scientific big-data. You will contribute to the design and evolution of the system and collaborate with a variety of people at CERN and the diverse open-source community of Rucio.

Your responsibilities

• Evolve the storage interaction workflows of Rucio in order to integrate new RI-SCALE research infrastructures.
• Evolve the authentication and authorisation workflows of Rucio.
• Design and develop features for the Rucio catalogue component.
• Participate in DevOps tasks in operating a Rucio deployment for the project.
• Participate in the evolution of the Rucio architecture at large.

More information here.

Your profile

• Experience with distributed storage technologies.
• Experience in the design and development of large distributed data management systems.
• Experience with SQL-based databases.
• Proven experience in software design, architecture, and continuous integration.

Skills

• Excellent skills in the Python programming language.
• Strong knowledge in distributed systems, computer networks, databases.
• Knowledge of the scientific computing domain and deployments via Kubernetes is an advantage.
• 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 Computer Science, Software Engineering (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: 20.03.2026 at 23:59 CET.

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

Working hours: 40 hours per week

Job flexibility: Hybrid

Target start date: 01-May-2026

This position involves:

• Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organisation.

Job reference: EP-SFT-2026-36-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