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. Known for its exceptional educational programs and cutting-edge research, ETH Zurich continuously strives to translate new knowledge and innovations into practical applications.

About ETH Zurich | Space

Led by academic director Prof. Thomas Zurbuchen, ETH Zurich | Space is dedicated to enhancing space activities, positioning itself as the premier institution for space research, education, and entrepreneurship in Europe and beyond.

One of the key objectives of ETH Zurich | Space is to expand space research activities and missions, often collaborating with other academic institutions, industrial partners, start-ups, and agencies. To streamline these efforts, ETH Zurich | Space has established Innovation and Project Hubs along with other supporting initiatives for researchers at ETH and beyond. The Innovation Hub serves as an incubator for new space-related ideas, fostering experimentation and rapid prototyping to assess and validate high-risk, high-reward concepts. The Project Hub provides centralized expertise in project management, space systems engineering, and specialized engineering to support space projects and missions, utilizing both traditional and modern partnerships. Additionally, the initiative aims to inform researchers about opportunities from the European Space Agency and Swiss initiatives, connecting them to commercial collaborations and alternative resources.

Position: Director Space Research Initiatives

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

This leadership role will oversee the Project and Innovation Hubs, facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, and guide the development of projects initiated by ETH researchers through their lifecycle. The Director will ensure smooth transitions between idea generation, proposal preparation, mission development, and operations while promoting synergies across these phases. Furthermore, the Director will actively engage with ETH researchers, encouraging faculty participation in space-related activities and supporting the strategic integration of space data applications across disciplines.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement and drive the success of the Project and Innovation Hubs.
• Continuously evaluate and enhance these hubs, including developing processes to track success and impacts, and gathering feedback from ETH researchers and external stakeholders.
• Manage a pool of space experts (project managers, systems engineers, etc.) and allocate resources to various space-related projects and initiatives.
• Establish and oversee administrative support for ETH researchers in areas such as proposal writing and issue resolution.
• Promote the Project and Innovation Hubs internally at ETH Zurich among researchers, faculties, and departments.
• Foster collaborations with academic partners, industrial companies, and agencies globally.
• Maintain an extensive network within the academic and industry spheres to stay attuned to the evolving needs of the space sector.
• Contribute to fundraising efforts for the Project and Innovation Hubs.
• Engage with similar units at other universities worldwide to benchmark best practices.

Professional Experience

• 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 industry.
• Management experience in complex projects or programs (e.g., as Principal Investigator or project manager).
• Significant hands-on experience in space hardware design and construction.
• A well-established network with key players in the space sector, both in Europe and internationally.

Social and Methodological Competencies

• A proven record as a proficient manager and leader.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in diverse teams.
• Strong analytical skills with a penchant for fostering innovative approaches.
• Excellent communication abilities across different environments and hierarchical levels.

Technical Knowledge and Expertise

• Expert-level knowledge in space-related science or engineering.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required; knowledge of German is a plus.
• A vision and aspiration to establish ETH Zurich as the leading university in Europe for space-related research, education, and entrepreneurship.

What We Offer

• A dynamic, international, and interdisciplinary work environment at one of the world’s leading technical universities.
• An inspiring team of individuals united by a passion for space and a common goal of enhancing space initiatives at ETH Zurich.

We look forward to receiving your application online using the form below.

Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Additional Information

For more insights about ETH Zurich | Space, please visit our website or follow our LinkedIn channel “ETH Zurich I Space.” For questions regarding the position, contact Michael Gschweitl at michael.gschweitl@sl.ethz.ch (no applications).

Application Deadline: 30.06.2025