Principal duties and responsibilities

The post designs, builds, programmes, validates, improves and maintains gas standard comparison and measurement facilities, performs calibration and comparison activities, and contributes to R&D developments while ensuring quality, safety and reliable delivery of technical outputs

The principal duties and responsibilities of the postholder will be to:

• Design, develop and build, programme and operate gas measurement methods and facilities.
• Develop, maintain and operate systems supporting calibration and gas comparison services, and perform measurement activities.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation, including standard operating procedures, technical reports, software documentation, quality documents, and health and safety procedures.
• Apply technical expertise to laboratory measurement systems to enable their continual improvement and digitalization of measurement data.
• Prepare and deliver measurement reports, analyses and data in required formats.
• Manage and coordinate equipment procurement, maintenance, service contracts and calibration activities, ensuring equipment remains fit for purpose.
• Perform and support laboratory operational activities, including equipment maintenance, manual handling, transportation and waste management.
• Define, monitor and manage instrument and consumable requirements for developments and projects.
• Undertake additional tasks supporting the role as requested by the Department Director.

Supervisory responsibilities

• To train and supervise technical activities of visiting scientists and students.
• Provide technical expertise, mentoring and guidance within assigned developments and projects.

Liaison and Coordination activities

• Participate in technical collaborations and developments.
• Contribute laboratory technical expertise to international comparisons, scientific collaborations, and partnerships.

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic background

• A Master’s degree in engineering science or equivalent.

Professional background

• Experience in instrumentation, software, electronics, or engineering developments within a National Metrology Institute, Research or Industry sectors.
• Successful track record over at least 5 years of designing, developing, building and operating facilities for accurate measurements based on integrating analytical instruments with other elements such as temperature, pressure, flow, mass and cryogen handling.
• Successful track record of developing LabVIEW or other programming for facility operation and data treatment including data storage and retrieval in databases.
• Previous experience of developing facilities for the measurements of gas concentration or other properties of gases would be an advantage.

Skills and competencies

• Proficiency in spoken and written English and a willingness to develop proficiency in French.
• Teamwork with demonstrated aptitude to encourage input and involvement of others; ability to introduce new approaches and take on new responsibilities when faced with challenges.
• The ability to work in a multicultural environment and to maintain good working relations inside and outside the organization.
• Self-motivated, proactive and autonomous work style.
• Capability to pay attention to detail and to work methodically and rigorously.

Terms of Employment & Benefits

• Full-time 5 year fixed-term appointment, with an initial probationary period of 6 months, renewable once.
• Competitive gross annual salary starting from 57 839 euros, plus allowances subject to eligibility, including compensation for an expatriate status
• Salaries and allowances exempt from income tax in France (French nationals and permanent residents in France subject to “taux effectif” of the French tax system).
• 30 days paid holiday per year.
• Contributory pension scheme and comprehensive private health insurance which can be extended to dependants.

More information on the Benefits and General Conditions of Employment at the BIPM

Applications and Selection process

The BIPM encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of gender.

A full curriculum vitae (CV) and a covering letter (in English) should be sent by 16 September 2026 (23h59 Paris time).

Applications should include the names of 2 referees who can comment on the applicant's suitability for the post (who will only be contacted with the prior permission of the candidate). Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. They may be invited to take part in a distance written test and/or in a remote interview. Thereafter, successful candidates will be invited to a face-to-face interview. A roster of suitable candidates may be established for this post. The selection process may be modified.

The BIPM retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a different grade/category, to make an appointment with a modified job description, or to offer an appointment term for a shorter duration than the one indicated in this vacancy announcement.