OpenStack Cloud Engineer

About the role

Are you enthusiastic about cloud infrastructure and eager to understand how extensive services are managed and developed? Join CERN's IT Cloud team and play a role in maintaining and enhancing the OpenStack-based cloud infrastructure that supports a majority of CERN and LHC experiment services. In this position, you will engage with the systems and software that deliver computing, storage, networking, and automation functionalities to thousands of users throughout the organization.

You will work closely with seasoned engineers, the upstream OpenStack community, and a variety of user groups at CERN, gaining practical experience in managing and evolving one of the largest scientific clouds globally. Your contributions will span service reliability, automation, feature development, and large-scale operations, enabling research.

If you thrive on tackling intricate technical challenges, contributing to open-source projects, and working with large-scale infrastructure, we invite you to join our team!

Key facts

What you'll do

• Operate and enhance CERN's OpenStack-based cloud infrastructure, ensuring its reliability and efficiency.
• Support the development and maintenance of cloud services, focusing on compute, storage, networking, and associated infrastructure components.
• Create and sustain automation tools using Python and configuration management systems to streamline operations.
• Collaborate with various IT teams and user communities to design and integrate innovative capabilities and services.
• Contribute bug fixes and enhancements to the upstream OpenStack community, leveraging CERN's strong connections within the open-source ecosystem.
• Engage in troubleshooting and performance optimization of extensive distributed systems to enhance service delivery.
• Further advance the automation of services to improve scalability and manageability across the infrastructure.
• Participate in the planning and execution of new service features, ensuring alignment with user needs and organizational goals.

Requirements

• Proven experience in administering or working with Linux systems within a server or data center environment.
• Proficiency in writing Python scripts or applications aimed at automation or system tasks.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms, virtualization technologies, or distributed systems is advantageous.
• Experience with configuration management tools such as Puppet or Ansible is a plus.
• Knowledge of container technologies, CI/CD systems, or software-defined networking is beneficial.
• Contributions to open-source projects or involvement in upstream communities are highly regarded.

Nice to have

• Strong understanding of the Linux operating system and its administration.
• Experience with version control systems, particularly git.
• Programming proficiency in Python, with a focus on automation and system integration.
• Interest in cloud infrastructure and large-scale distributed systems.
• Familiarity with networking concepts and storage technologies is a plus.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary, international team and communicate effectively.

Skills & tools

• In-depth knowledge of Linux operating systems.
• Proficient in Python programming and automation scripting.
• Familiar with configuration management systems (e.g., Puppet, Ansible).
• Understanding of networking and storage technologies.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills in English, with a willingness to learn French.

Practical notes

• Eligibility criteria include being a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• Applicants should have a maximum of two years of professional experience post-graduation in Computer Science or a related field, with a Bachelor's or Master's degree as the highest qualification.
• Candidates who have previously held a CERN fellow or graduate contract are not eligible to apply.
• Individuals without a university degree or those holding a PhD are also ineligible.

Job closing date: 10.08.2026 at 23:59 CEST.

Contract duration: 24 months, with the possibility of extension up to a maximum of 36 months.

Working hours: 40 hours per week.

Job flexibility: Hybrid.

Target start date: 01-November-2026.

Job reference: IT-CD-CLI-2026-180-GRAE.

Field of work: Software Engineering and IT.

Benchmark job: 200020

Computing Engineer.

Global Benefits

• A monthly stipend ranging from 5266 to 5793 Swiss Francs (tax-free), depending on your educational qualifications.
• 30 days of paid leave annually, in addition to a two-week annual closure.
• Coverage under CERN's comprehensive health insurance scheme for yourself, your spouse, and children, along with membership in the CERN Pension Fund.
• Family, child, and infant monthly allowances based on individual circumstances.
• A relocation package that includes an installation grant and travel expenses, depending on your situation.
• Opportunities for contract extension up to 36 months.
• Access to on-the-job training and formal education, including language classes.

Overview of CERN

Discover a world where the impossible becomes possible!

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, we are at the forefront of scientific and technological advancement. Our pioneering work unites not only physicists but also a diverse array of professionals from engineering, technical, scientific, and administrative backgrounds. Together, we cultivate an environment where innovation and collaboration flourish.

Every day, we encounter exciting challenges and opportunities to contribute to research that enhances our understanding of the universe. We tackle these challenges through the diverse perspectives within our teams, ensuring that every contribution is valued and fostering a shared sense of inclusion and purpose. Diversity has been a fundamental value at CERN since its inception and remains central to our mission and ongoing success.

If you are prepared to join a dynamic, inclusive community that pushes the boundaries of knowledge, CERN is the ideal place for your curiosity and skills to flourish. Be part of our mission to uncover the mysteries at the heart of the universe! TAKE PART!

For more information about us, please visit: careers.cern.