The Einstein Telescope (ET) is a proposed underground facility for a third-generation gravitational-wave observatory. Building on the success of Advanced Virgo and Advanced LIGO, which detected merging black holes and neutron stars, ET will have a much higher sensitivity. This will be achieved with 10km interferometer arms (up from Virgo’s 3km), a depth of 150-300 meters underground, and new technologies like cryogenic cooling of optics around 15K, quantum techniques to reduce light fluctuations, and advanced noise-reduction systems. ET will enable exploration of the Universe’s gravitational waves back to the cosmological dark ages, offering insights into fundamental physics and cosmology.

The ET project is in the ‘study’ phase at present and will transition into an execution project after its approval.

Your responsibilities

• Defining the electrical requirements with users and producing the Electrical Load List.
• Preparation of conceptual design specifications and reports.
• Develop and use models of the HV, MV and LV networks of the telescope using commercially available software applications to perform various electrical system studies such as load flow, short circuit, transient stability, harmonic analysis etc.
• Preparing the transmission and distribution single line diagrams, failure mode scenarios and backup power supply solutions for both surface and underground facilities.
• Contribute to the study for a potential deployment of energy storage, grid control, FACTS, and DC grids.
• Providing the inputs required and supporting the grid connection preparation.
• Perform surveys/ carry out measurements on CERN existing electrical systems (surface and underground) and other similar telescope installations globally as appropriate, to retrieve the information useful for the studies.
• Support the preparation of bill of quantities and cost estimate (CAPEX and OPEX).
• Define and review the requirements of the electrical systems and co-ordinate with the other Study team members for 3D modelling of the electrical infrastructure for its integration into the overall model and the civil works.
• Contribute to the (technological) survey of new technologies in the electrical distribution domain that could be deployed on the project.

Be sure to meet the eligibility criteria

• You are a national of a CERN Member State or Associate Member State. Currently, we cannot consider applications from Pakistani, Lithuanian, Latvian, Cypriot, Croatian and Turkish nationals, as the ceiling defined under Article II.5 of the Associate Membership Agreement has been reached.
• By the application deadline, you have a master’s degree with 2 to 6 years of professional experience since graduation or a PhD with a maximum of 3 years of professional experience since graduation. You are not eligible with only a bachelor’s degree.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
• Please pay attention to the additional criteria and requirements for this specific position and mentioned above.