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CERN Is Recruiting Firefighters — Here's How to Apply

July 15, 2026·4 min read·+3k views·💬 Comments

CERN Is Recruiting Firefighters — Here's How to Apply

CERN's Fire & Rescue Service is recruiting professional firefighters to protect one of the most advanced scientific facilities on Earth. Here's what the role involves — and how to apply.

Protecting the World's Largest Science Experiment

Nestled beneath the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva sits the European Organization for Nuclear Research — better known as CERN. Home to the Large Hadron Collider and some of the most complex scientific instruments ever built, CERN pushes the boundaries of human knowledge, probing the fundamental structure of the universe.

But behind the physics and the particle collisions, there is a team that keeps it all safe — and they are recruiting right now.

CERN Fire & Rescue badge

© CERN Fire & Rescue — hse.cern

A Fire Service Like No Other

The CERN Fire & Rescue Service (FRS) is a professional, multi-national brigade protecting a site unlike anywhere else on Earth. Their remit goes far beyond a conventional fire service: from underground installations and radiation-controlled areas to hazardous materials, confined spaces and cutting-edge laboratories, the team must be ready for anything, anywhere on the site.

Working 12-hour shifts with 24/7 readiness, CERN firefighters respond to fires, medical emergencies and specialised rescues while also carrying out safety monitoring, technical inspections and fire prevention across the organisation's vast surface and subterranean footprint.

The Role

Following a tailored 10-week on-the-job training programme, successful candidates join an assigned team and take on a wide-ranging brief:

Emergency response — firefighting, medical response and rescue operations

Safety Control Room — monitoring and managing emergency dispatch

Technical inspections & patrols — safety checks and fire-regulation compliance

Specialised assistance — confined spaces, hazardous materials and high-risk transport missions

Training & exercises — continuous drills and professional development

Fire prevention — awareness initiatives and collaborative safety projects

Equipment maintenance — upkeep of firefighting and medical emergency equipment, including extinguishers and hydrants

Who They're Looking For

CERN Fire & Rescue firefighters

© CERN Fire & Rescue — hse.cern

Candidates must hold official firefighter diplomas or certifications issued by a public or delegated body, and currently work as a professional firefighter in a public or company fire service. A valid C driving licence is required, and you must be prepared to live in the immediate vicinity of CERN's installations.

Because CERN is a proudly international organisation, spoken and written English or French is essential — with a commitment to learn the other language. Language courses are provided to help you reach operational fluency quickly.

The Package

This is a limited-duration contract of five years, extendable up to eight, with eligibility for an indefinite position. CERN offers a genuinely outstanding package:

A competitive, tax-free salary that increases with experience

30 days' paid leave per year, plus a two-week annual closure

Comprehensive health insurance for you, your spouse and your children

Membership of the CERN Pension Fund

Family, child and infant monthly allowances

A full relocation package (installation grant, removal and travel expenses)

CERN Fire & Rescue training drill

© CERN Fire & Rescue — hse.cern

How to Apply

Applications close on 24 August 2026 at 23:59 CEST. Two virtual Q&A sessions will be held on 21 and 30 July 2026 for anyone considering a move to CERN.

To find out more and apply, visit the UK Firefighter Hub job board:

👉 UK Firefighter Hub Jobs Board

You can also learn more about working in CERN's Fire & Rescue Service on the official CERN HSE page.

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