Design Engineer Monolithic Pixel Sensors (EP-ESE-2025-246-GRAP)

Job Description

Join the microelectronics design team at CERN to develop and optimise advanced analog integrated circuits for next-generation monolithic pixel sensors.

You will design, simulate, lay out, verify and test innovative circuits supporting high-precision, radiation-tolerant detectors such as ALICE 3.

Working closely with sensor and electronics experts, you will contribute to prototypes, test structures and full detector developments, addressing stringent constraints in area, power, coupling and signal integrity.

Your responsibilities:

• Develop and propose innovative analog circuit designs for monolithic CMOS sensors. These include, but are not limited to front ends, bias, data transmission, timing circuits.
• Carry out advanced analog simulations to evaluate circuit performance, including the effects of parasitic elements extracted from layout designs, evaluate signal coupling, signal and power integrity.
• Layout circuits and ensure they satisfy design rule and lvs checks.
• Compare simulation results with experimental data to refine the designs.
• Take part in the preparation and design of test setups and in the experimental verification of prototypes by guiding measurement campaigns or conducting measurements directly.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues in design, simulation, and testing teams to deliver robust solutions.

Your profile:

• Experience with the Cadence chip design software, including simulation, layout and design rule verification software with at least one analog design submitted and tested.
• Experience with testing of analog integrated circuits or circuit blocks is a plus.
• Experience with mixed-mode design (analog-digital) is a plus.

Skills:

• Insight in MOS transistor operation, including mismatch and noise, and their relation to analog circuits.
• Knowledge of analog chip design and layout, pre- and post-layout simulation, and drc and lvs verification.
• Knowledge of radiation effects is a plus.
• Good communication skills to interact within the design team and with the various measurement teams.
• Spoken and written English or French, with a commitment to learn the basics of the other language.

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State .
• You have a professional background in electrical 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.

Additional Information

Job closing date: 16.01.2026 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-February-2026

This position involves:

• Work in Radiation Areas.
• Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization.

Job reference: EP-ESE-2025-246-GRAP

Field of work: Electrical or Electronics Engineering

Benchmark job: 200050 - Electronics Engineer

What we offer

• A monthly stipend ranging between 6287  and 6911  Swiss Francs per month (net of tax).
• Coverage by CERN's comprehensive health scheme (for yourself, your spouse and children), and membership of the CERN Pension Fund.
• Depending on your individual circumstances: installation grant; family, child and infant allowances; payment of travel expenses at the beginning and end of contract.
• 30 days of paid leave per year.
• On-the-job and formal training at CERN as well as in-house language courses for English and/or French.

About us

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. Using the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments, they study the basic constituents of matter - fundamental particles that are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives physicists clues about how particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature. Find out more on http://home.cern.

We are on a Quest. A Journey into discovery like no other. Bring your expertise to our unique work and develop your knowledge and skills at pace. Join world-class subject matter experts on unique projects, in a Quest for greater knowledge and deeper understanding.

Begin your CERN Quest. Take Part!

Diversity has been an integral part of CERN's mission since its foundation and is an established value of the Organization. Employing a diverse workforce is central to our success.