Research Scientist/Engineer 2

Job Description

The Department of Physics has an outstanding opportunity for a part time Research Scientists/Engineer 2 working with the ATLAS experiment at CERN and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to join their team. 

This work focuses on the computing for the ATLAS experiment.

About this Opportunity

This project is a collaborative effort within the ATLAS experiment, focused on understanding and improving the computational performance of the software and workflows used to process and analyze ATLAS data. It offers an opportunity to coordinate and contribute to activities within the ATLAS Software Performance Optimization Team (SPOT), while contributing directly to the development of tools and techniques for measuring, diagnosing, and improving software performance. The work will include continuous monitoring of CPU utilization, memory consumption, throughput, and I/O performance; identifying and understanding performance regressions; and profiling ATLAS applications to locate computational bottlenecks. Working closely with software developers and computing experts across ATLAS, the project will investigate new technologies and optimization strategies and help translate these into improvements in production software and workflows. Particular emphasis will be placed on preparing ATLAS software for the substantially increased computing demands of the High-Luminosity LHC.

A second major component of the position will be scientific coordination within an ongoing ATLAS search for long-lived particles decaying in the calorimeter. The successful candidate will serve as an Analysis Contact for this analysis, helping to coordinate a small team of analyzers and contributing to the progression of the analysis from its development through final publication. This role includes organizing the work of the analysis team, contributing to major analysis decisions and studies, coordinating with the relevant ATLAS physics groups, and helping coordinate the analysis through the collaboration’s internal review and approval process under the general guidance of the supervisor. The candidate will also contribute directly to the analysis, providing an opportunity to combine scientific coordination with hands-on work on the extraction and interpretation of physics results from ATLAS data.

This position is located in Bern, Switzerland.

Key Responsibilities

ATLAS Software Performance Optimization Team (SPOT) (70%)

• Coordinate SPOT activities and priorities. Coordinate activities within the small ATLAS Software Performance Optimization Team, contribute to setting team priorities, and work with ATLAS software and computing groups to identify and prioritize performance issues.
• Develop and maintain software performance monitoring and benchmarking.
• Measure and track CPU utilization, memory consumption, throughput, and I/O performance for representative ATLAS software releases and workflows, with particular attention to requirements for the High-Luminosity LHC.
• Diagnose performance regressions and computational bottlenecks.
• Profile ATLAS applications, investigate changes in software performance, and identify the components or workflows responsible for excessive CPU, memory, or I/O usage.
• Develop and evaluate software and workflow optimizations. Work with ATLAS developers to implement and test improvements to software performance and assess their impact using representative production workloads.
• Evaluate emerging computing technologies and approaches. At the request of ATLAS Software & Computing leadership, investigate new profiling tools, data formats, I/O strategies, compression techniques, and other technologies that could improve the efficiency of ATLAS computing.

ATLAS Physics Analysis (30%)

• Serve as an Analysis Contact for an ongoing search for long-lived particles decaying in the ATLAS calorimeter.
• Help coordinate the team of analyzers, contribute to establishing priorities and milestones, organize specific analysis activities, and participate in physics and technical decisions.
• Contribute directly to the development and execution of the physics analysis. Develop and validate analysis methods, including event selection, background estimation, systematic uncertainties, and statistical interpretation of the results.
• Help coordinate the analysis through ATLAS review and publication.
• Coordinate interactions with relevant ATLAS physics and performance groups, present the analysis for internal review, address collaboration feedback, and contribute to preparation of the final analysis documentation and publication.

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Physics or a related field and two years of relevant research experience in scientific software or experimental particle physics or a closely related field.
• Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Manager.

Additional Qualifications

• Knowledge of experimental particle physics or a closely related field.
• Experience with scientific software development in C++ and Python in a Linux environment.
• Ability to analyze and optimize the performance of scientific software, including CPU usage, memory consumption, and I/O behavior.
• Experience developing, validating, and maintaining software used in large-scale scientific data processing or analysis.
• Experience carrying out a particle physics data analysis, including event selection, background estimation, systematic uncertainties, and statistical interpretation.
• Ability to coordinate technical or scientific work within a collaborative research team, including contributing to setting priorities, organizing tasks, and communicating progress.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a large, geographically distributed scientific collaboration.
• Ability to work independently, diagnose technical problems, and develop practical solutions.

Preferred Qualification

• PhD in Physics
• Experience with the ATLAS experiment, Athena, or comparable software frameworks used by large particle physics experiments.
• Experience with software profiling, benchmarking, performance monitoring, or optimization tools.
• Familiarity with ROOT, RNTuple, scientific data formats, compression, and high-performance I/O.
• Experience with large-scale distributed computing environments, batch systems, or high-throughput computing.
• Experience in searches for long-lived particles or other beyond-the-Standard-Model physics.
• Experience leading or coordinating a particle physics analysis, including interaction with internal review or publication processes.
• Familiarity with High-Luminosity LHC computing challenges and software modernization efforts.
• Experience working across software, computing, and physics-analysis teams in a large scientific collaboration.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

$68,736.00 annual

Pay Range Maximum:

$113,580.00 annual

Other Compensation:

-

Benefits:

For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/

Shift:

International Work Shift (Switzerland)

Temporary or Regular?

This is a regular position

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

70.00%

Union/Bargaining Unit:

UAW Research

About the UW 

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.  

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Our Commitment 

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or [email protected]. 

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.