Mechanical Technician F/M

ESRF - The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility; Grenoble; Hybrid; EUR 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Competitive compensation

Vibrant Alpine city location

Job summary

ESRF - The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble is seeking a technician to join the Front Ends group, maintaining and developing front-end equipment for the EBS-ESRF accelerators. You will work on vacuum chambers, water cooling, pneumatic systems, and test control software to diagnose front-end systems.

The role requires at least 3 years of professional experience, a mechanical background, knowledge of vacuum systems, good scheduling and organizational skills, and fluent English.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience.
• Mechanical background is required.
• Knowledge and/or experience in vacuum systems.
• Scheduling and organizational skills are required.
• Proficiency in English (working language at ESRF).

Responsibilities

• Mechanical tasks: vacuum chamber assembly, water cooling systems' upgrade, pneumatic systems, maintenance of mechanical components.
• Vacuum tasks: leak test, residual gas analysis record of UHV system, maintenance of vacuum equipment (leak detector, turbo pumps).
• Electrical tasks: bake-out preparation of front end equipment.
• Computer/Software: use existing software to test control and diagnose front end systems.

Skills

Mechanical background

Vacuum systems

Scheduling

Organizational skills

English proficiency

Job description

• Publication start on Front Office : Site internet: 12/10/2026

In the Front Ends group, a team composed of one engineer and four technicians, you will participate in a project consisting of maintaining and developing the front ends equipment for the EBS-ESRF particle accelerators. The front end is the interface between the source and the optics on the beamline. Its main function is to act as a shutter enabling or disabling beam to travel from the storage ring to the experimental hutch. The front end is composed of a series of components: photon shutter, radiation shutter, slits, valves, diamond windows, etc., located inside the storage ring tunnel where they are exposed to high radiation levels during operation.

Your main missions will be the following:

• Mechanical tasks: vacuum chamber assembly, water cooling systems' upgrade, pneumatic systems, participation in the maintenance of mechanical components.
• Vacuum tasks: leak test, residual gas analysis record of UHV system, maintenance of vacuum equipment (leak detector, turbo pumps...)
• Electrical tasks: bake-out preparation of front end equipment.
• Computer/Software: use existing software to test control and diagnose front end systems.

Part of your work could be carried out in shifts, including stand-by cover, following ESRF regulations.

Expected profile

You should hold:

• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience
• Mechanical background is required
• Knowledge and/or experience in vacuum systems
• Scheduling and organizational skills are required
• Proficiency in English (working language at the ESRF)

Working conditions

Permanent contract.

The salary will be calculated on the basis of relevant qualifications and professional experience.

What makes the ESRF experience unique…

Join an innovative international research institute, with a workforce from 38 different countries

Collaborate with global experts to advance science and address societal challenges

Come and live in a vibrant city, in the heart of the Alps, and Europe's Green Capital 2022

Enjoy a workplace designed to support your quality of life

Benefit from our competitive compensation and allowances package, including financial support for your relocation to Grenoble

For further information on employment terms and conditions, please refer to "What we offer" section of our Careers page https://www.esrf.fr/Jobs

The ESRF is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from disabled persons.

The European Synchrotron, the ESRF, is an international research centre based in Grenoble, France.

Through its innovative engineering, pioneering scientific vision and a strong commitment from its 700 staff members, the ESRF is recognised as one of the top research facilities worldwide. Its particle accelerator produces intense X-ray beams that are used by thousands of scientists each year for experiments in diverse fields such as biology, medicine, environmental sciences, cultural heritage, materials science, and physics.

Supported by 19 countries, the ESRF is an equal opportunity employer and encourages diversity.