Director of Space Research Initiatives / Directoress of Space Research Initiatives

ETH Zurich | Space

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specializing in science and technology. It is renowned for its excellent education, cutting-edge research, and commitment to translating new knowledge and innovations into practical applications.

About ETH Zurich | Space

Under the leadership of academic director Prof. Thomas Zurbuchen, ETH Zurich | Space is enhancing its space activities to establish ETH Zurich as the premier university in space research, education, and entrepreneurship across Europe and beyond.

A primary focus of ETH Zurich | Space is to expand space research activities and missions in collaboration with other academic institutions, industrial partners, start-ups, and agencies. To facilitate this, ETH Zurich | Space has established Innovation and Project Hubs, alongside various supportive activities for researchers at ETH and beyond.

The Innovation Hub serves as a creative incubator for new space-related ideas, driving experimentation and rapid prototyping to enable extensive validation (or disproof) of new concepts that carry both high risks and potential high rewards. Meanwhile, the Project Hub provides centralized expertise in project management, space systems engineering, and specialized engineering support, aiding space projects and missions in both traditional and innovative settings. Additionally, supporting activities include informing researchers about opportunities available through the European Space Agency and Swiss initiatives focused on space, all while fostering connections with opportunities arising from commercial collaborations and non-traditional resources.

Position: Director of Space Research Initiatives

ETH Zurich | Space is seeking a Director of Space Research Initiatives, with a starting date as soon as possible.

This Director position oversees the Project and Innovation Hubs, ensuring interdisciplinary collaboration and guiding the development of projects and ideas initiated by ETH researchers or the Innovation Hub throughout their lifecycle. The Director will facilitate smooth transitions between concept development, proposal preparation, mission development, and operations while promoting synergies across these phases. This role also involves actively engaging with ETH researchers to advance space as a strategic research field and encourage faculty participation in related activities. Additionally, the Director will support the strategic integration of space data applications into ETH research, enabling innovative uses of space data across diverse disciplines. An important aspect of this role is to foster collaboration and interaction between the Innovation and Project Hubs, ensuring coordination and guiding projects appropriately while nurturing the exchange of ideas.

Key Responsibilities:

• Successfully implement and drive success of the Project and Innovation Hubs.
• Continuously evaluate and develop the Hubs, including developing processes to track success and impact, and conducting regular evaluations by ETH researchers and external stakeholders.
• Manage a central pool of space experts (project managers, systems engineers, etc.), coordinating allocation across various space-related projects and idea development initiatives.
• Setup and manage administrative support for ETH researchers, including assistance with proposal writing and processing invoices.
• Organize internal marketing initiatives for the Project and Innovation Hubs among researchers, professors, and labs across different departments.
• Foster collaborations with academic partners, industry, and agencies both in Switzerland and globally.
• Maintain a robust network within the academic and industry landscape to stay abreast of the evolving needs of space-related companies.
• Contribute to fundraising efforts for the Project and Innovation Hubs.
• Engage with similar units at other universities worldwide to benchmark best practices.

Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in a natural science or engineering discipline.
• Several years of experience in space-related research and projects within academia, agencies, or the space-related industry.
• Management experience overseeing complex projects or programs, such as being a Principal Investigator or project manager.
• Substantial personal experience in space hardware design and construction.
• Established network with key players in the space sector across Europe and globally.

Skills:

• Proven managerial and leadership capabilities.
• Strong teamwork and a collaborative spirit within diverse teams.
• Analytical thinking with a flair for innovative problem-solving.
• Excellent communication skills across various environments, including academia, industry, and agencies.
• Expert-level knowledge and experience in space science or engineering.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of German is advantageous.

Benefits:

Join us in a dynamic, international, and interdisciplinary work environment at one of the world’s leading technical universities. Be part of a motivated team passionate about strengthening and enhancing space activities at ETH Zurich.

How to Apply

We invite qualified candidates to apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Additional Information

For further information about ETH Zurich | Space, please visit our website and follow us on our LinkedIn channel, “ETH Zurich | Space.”

For inquiries regarding the position, please contact Michael Gschweitl at Show e-mail.ch">Show e-mail (no applications).

Application Deadline: 30.06.2025