Control Physicist
Ref. RES-O&C-25-3

Control Physicist

Application Deadline:  25 June 2025

 

Ensure that your candidate profile is correct before applying.

General information

Offer title: Control Physicist

Reference: RES-O&C-25-3

Number of positions: 1

Workplace: via E.Amaldi 5/7, Loc. S.Stefano a Macerata – Cascina (Pisa)

Date of publication: 26 May 2025

Type of Contract: “Ricercatore” (Researcher)

Contract Period: permanent contract subject to a probation period of 6 months

Expected date of employment: The earliest possible

Proportion of work: Full time

Remuneration:  45.645,60 annual gross (Liv.IIIa Fascia 0)

Desired level of education: PhD in Physics or engineer in topics related to the position

Experience required: Knowledge of control theory and practice; Knowledge of Matlab or Python programming language

Desired Experiences: Experience in the gravitational wave detectors field; Knowledge of optical resonators and related control systems

Sections: Optics & Controls Department

 

Missions

The European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) is seeking a Control Physicist to join its Optics & Controls Department.

Activities

The selected candidate will work as an Applied Physicist for the ITF Operation / Commissioning / Upgrade, in the Controls group of the EGO Optics and Controls Department. The Controls group of the design, commissioning and operation of the control of the Advanced Virgo+ ITF. It is a complex opto-mechanical system with 5 longitudinal degrees of freedom, along the main ITF beam, and the angular degrees of freedom, the pitch and yaw control of the main optical components. The candidate will collaborate with other team members and Virgo members working on the ITF commissioning.

In particular, she/he will work mainly on:

• Optical simulation for interferometer sensing and control in view of the Advanced Virgo upgrades;
• Optical and control simulations focused on commissioning in order to foresee issues and develop strategies to speed-up the implementation phase.
• Optical and control simulations in view of the Advanced Virgo upgrade;
• Maintenance, trouble-shooting and improvement of the longitudinal and angular control system of the ITF;
• simulation, commissioning, maintenance, trouble-shooting and improvement of the longitudinal and angular control system of the ITF;
• daily monitoring and operation of ITF longitudinal and alignment control;
• setting-up and use of instrumentation and analysis tools for control characterization;
• supporting the other subsystems during shifts.

The position requires sometimes the selected candidate to work outside of normal working hours, including nights, weekends and public holidays, and may require shift work and participation in a regular on-call service. It may happen to cope with technically difficult situations, and to work within strict deadlines.

Essential skills

• PhD in Physics or engineer in topics related to the position;
• Knowledge of control theory and practice;
• Basic knowledge of UNIX/LINUX operating systems;
• Knowledge of Matlab or Python programming language;
• Capacity to communicate efficiently with colleagues from different countries and a good sense of team spirit;
• Problem-solving oriented attitude, ability to work in a team, and a proactive, collaborative approach to work;
• Good knowledge of English;
• No criminal convictions.

Other skills

One or more of the following will be an asset:

• PhD degree or equivalent experience in topics related to the position;
• Experience in the gravitational wave detectors field;
• Knowledge of optical resonators and related control systems;
• Knowledge of Italian and/or French.

Work Context

The European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) is seeking a Researcher to join the Optics & Controls Department.

EGO is an international consortium, founded by INFN and CNRS to foster European collaboration in gravitational-wave research. EGO is located in Cascina, near Pisa – Italy, and hosts and operates the gravitational-wave detector Virgo, a 3 km-long laser interferometer (ITF). The Virgo project involves the participation of about 130 institutions with more than 800 scientists, engineers and technicians from France, Italy, the Netherlands and other 13 European countries.

EGO welcomes applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, color, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Selection procedure

Only candidates who meet the above essential required qualifications and experience are admitted to the selection procedure. The evaluation of the candidates admitted to the procedure is assigned to a Selection Board appointed by the Director of EGO. The Selection Board will determine the evaluation criteria in the first meeting. The first phase of the selection will be based on a review of the Application Forms and other documents received in line with the above-mentioned essential and desired requirements. Only candidates who have obtained the minimum score established by the Selection Board in the first meeting will be able to access to the second phase of the selection, which will consist of an interview. During the interview the Selection Board will verify the knowledge of the English language, the knowledge in gravitational wave field, the knowledge in Python and/or Matlab development and the other desired qualifications and experience.

At the end of the interviews the Selection Board will draw up a ranking of the candidates who obtained at least the minimum score established during the first meeting.

The completion of the hiring is subject to Italian law D.Lgs. 81/08 art.41 “Sorveglianza Sanitaria”.

The EGO Consortium has the free right not to proceed with the recruitment.

Privacy policy

Controller: European Gravitational Observatory – email: ego-gw@pec.it

Responsible for data – email: privacy@ego-gw.it

Under Article 13 of UE Regulation (EU) 2016/79 of the European Parliament and of the Council, required personal data will be exclusively collected and treated for purposes strictly connected to the selection procedure also with the use of computerized procedures, according to current law and regulations concerning the implementation of this kind of activity.

Providing such data to EGO is necessary for the evaluation of participation requirements and of the holding of titles; failure to provide these data may compromise such evaluation.

Data will be kept only for the period required by the selection, evaluation and audit procedures.

EGO guarantees each person the right of access to personal data, as well as the rectification, or erasure or restriction of them, as well as the right to object to their processing; such requests shall be addressed to privacy@ego-gw.it.

Application Procedure:

Candidates have to send their CV and the EGO Application Form (to be found here) together with a cover letter and eventual reference letters, to jobs@ego-gw.it quoting the reference number of this vacancy notice.

Constraints and risks

None