Applied Physicist for CMS Inner Detectors

Applied Physicist for CMS Inner Detectors

CERN - European Organization for Nuclear Research

Geneva, Switzerland

What you'll do

You will develop algorithms, FPGA firmware, and data acquisition systems for CMS online luminosity measurement, beam monitoring, and Tracker calibration for the High Luminosity LHC, and coordinate such developments.

This involves Integrating and commissioning back-end systems for luminosity and tracking detectors, enabling real-time data processing and precision luminosity measurements.

Your responsibilities

• Develop, deploy, and maintain firmware and real-time algorithms for back-end electronics across multiple CMS board platforms, including systems for the Fast Beam Conditions Monitor (FBCM), Inner and Outer Tracker online luminosity, to support luminosity measurement, beam monitoring, and lumi-trigger generation.
• Validate front-end detectors (including FBCM and Tracker modules) and back-end electronics through laboratory testing, ensuring end-to-end system performance from detector to data output.
• Execute detector functional tests during detector integration at the Tracker Integration Facility, ensuring system readiness prior to installation.
• Organise and lead test campaigns, including preparatory activities, on-site coordination of participants, and systematic validation of hardware, firmware, software and detector response.
• Lead studies of detector efficiency, calibration quality, and operational stability, through measurements and simulations.
• Coordinate technical interfaces across detector, trigger, timing, and data acquisition domains to ensure system integration.
• Supervise and mentor students and fellows, including recruitment and structured technical guidance.
• Anticipate upcoming technical and operational needs, structuring workflows, preparing infrastructure, and engaging with collaborating institutes to ensure continuity of operations.

Your profile

• Hands-on experience with detector laboratories, electronics prototyping, and test beam operations.
• Strong experience in FPGA firmware development (VHDL or similar HDL) and real-time data processing, ideally in particle physics detectors.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate and troubleshoot complex systems spanning firmware, software, and detector hardware, from the detector frontend through to the data output.
• Experience with data analysis, detector efficiency and calibration studies, and the statistical methods relevant to performance evaluation.
• Experience in supervising or mentoring students or junior colleagues, including selecting candidates and adapting guidance to individual strengths.
• PhD or equivalent relevant experience in the field of Physics or a related field. You are asked to provide at least one reference letter as part of your application.
• You are asked to provide at least one reference letter as part of your application.

Your skills

• Simulation, design and development of trigger, data acquisition chains: including FPGA-based electronics.
• Simulation, design and development of (parts of) detectors.
• Testing and validation of detector, accelerator and beam line components.
• Analysis and optimisation of detector performance: through the interpretation of simulation and experimental data.