Data Science Expert / Data Science Expertess

Data Science Expert

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

To support teaching, research, and knowledge transfer, the IT Services (ITS) of ETH Zurich operate as a service organization within a large and complex IT environment. Within the ITS section, the Scientific IT Services group Computational & Data Science Support (CDSS) is dedicated to bridging the gap between computational research and IT services. We collaborate closely with ETH researchers to support a wide range of scientific computing needs, from data management and analysis to the development, porting, and optimization of scientific software for high-performance and cloud computing infrastructures.

Project Background

We are seeking a Data Science Expert with a robust background in GenAI technologies to join ETH's Scientific IT Services. The primary focus will be on ETH's recent initiative to create a scalable and extensible "AI platform" designed to enhance services and functionalities for teaching, research, and administrative purposes. In addition to this initiative, you will have the opportunity to work on diverse machine learning and scientific computing projects that support a variety of research and computational needs across the institution.

Job Description

• Your primary focus will be participating in ETH's AI platform project, gathering requirements, conducting feasibility studies, and performing technical assessments for GenAI solutions within teaching, research, and administration.
• You will develop prototypes of GenAI workflows tailored to client needs, including Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) bots and AI Agents.
• You will document and assist in integrating these prototypes and new functionalities into ETH's AI platform.
• You will explore emerging tools and technologies relevant to the platform's evolution.
• Besides the AI platform, you will contribute to various machine learning projects throughout ETH's research and administrative domains, developing and implementing scientific computing solutions to support multiple initiatives.
• You will prepare and present teaching materials on GenAI best practices and broader machine learning topics.
• Your role requires effective communication and relationship management across diverse stakeholders, from technical experts to non-technical users.

Profile

This position requires:

• A PhD degree in data/computational sciences or a related field.
• A solid understanding of the mathematical and numerical foundations of machine learning, statistical analysis, and modeling.
• Proficiency in Python and its machine learning tech stack/libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and scikit-learn.
• Experience with GenAI frameworks and orchestration tools, such as LangChain, LangGraph, LlamaIndex, or similar libraries for building LLM applications.
• Working and development experience with various model architectures like transformers, as well as classical ML approaches.
• Experience in creating chatbots, conversational agents, or RAG systems and related technologies, such as embeddings or vector databases/extensions (e.g., Milvus, Chroma, pgvector).
• Experience applying software engineering best practices including automated testing, version control (Git), CI/CD pipelines, and containerization technologies (e.g., Docker).
• The ability to work effectively across diverse technical projects and adapt methodologies to different scientific computing challenges.

Advantageous qualifications include:

• A good understanding of prompt engineering and prompt optimization strategies.
• Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., Azure) and their machine learning services.
• Prior experience in developing/applying GenAI technologies in the context of teaching and learning.
• Understanding of responsible AI/AI ethics, including mitigation, hallucination detection, safety filters, and interpretability.

In addition to these analytical and technical abilities, this position requires a strong interest in and ability to collaborate with experts from various fields, including those that are non-technical. Excellent communication skills in English (German is an asset) are essential, as are solid project management skills and a service-oriented attitude to foster successful collaboration with our partners.

The position is located in Zurich; occasional travel to other Swiss cities may be required.

Workplace

We offer a unique environment that fosters knowledge sharing and engagement across a wide range of scientific IT areas and further educational opportunities. We are committed to flexible and family-friendly working models and a healthy work-life balance.

Additional Information

ETH Zurich is a diverse and inclusive employer that actively encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from female candidates.

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

About ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is among the world's leading universities specializing in science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education, cutting-edge research, and the direct transfer of new knowledge into society. Our university promotes independent thinking and provides an inspiring environment for over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries. Located in the heart of Europe, we forge connections globally to develop solutions for today's and tomorrow's challenges.