Senior Software Engineer / Senior Software Engineeress and Technical Lead / Technical Leadess

ETH Zurich - June 7, 2025

Senior Software Engineer and Technical Lead

80%-100%, Zurich, fixed-term

The Geothermal Energy and Geofluids (GEG) Group is a prestigious research unit within the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at ETH Zurich. We investigate a variety of subsurface mass and energy transfer processes, addressing numerous societal concerns related to geothermal energy exploration, extraction, utilization, geologic carbon dioxide sequestration, and much more. Our focus includes fundamental and applied research to meet these challenges. For more details, please see our website.

Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Scientific Software Engineer to lead our software development initiatives at GEG. Our team specializes in developing cutting-edge scientific and engineering software for a broad spectrum of applications, including geoscience, energy systems, and mathematical modeling. This role is ideally suited for an experienced software developer with a solid background in scientific computing, who is enthusiastic about leading a development team, driving innovation, and exploring commercial opportunities arising from our research.

Please note that this position is linked to a project, and we are looking for a candidate who is open to joining on a temporary contract initially, with the potential for a permanent position contingent upon successful project acquisition.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the software development team, promoting best practices and technical excellence.
  • Oversee the development and enhancement of our scientific and engineering software tools, focusing on applications in geoscience, optimization, and techno-economic modeling.
  • Guide the team in modern software development practices (e.g., version control, documentation, testing, continuous integration).
  • Adapt software for parallel computing, optimization workflows, and high-performance computing environments.
  • Contribute to software deployment, testing, and benchmarking across multiple platforms.
  • Assist with other software development, data analysis, and visualization tasks as needed across various projects.
  • Contribute to the development of ML and AI components within GEG software, including physics-informed ML/AI models, proxy models, input-output pattern recognition, data gap detection and interpolation, and knowledge-informed prompt generation for model input assistance.
  • Explore opportunities for commercializing software innovations within the group, particularly regarding SaaS applications.

Profile

You possess a strong technical background in scientific and engineering software development, complemented by leadership skills and an entrepreneurial mindset. You are not pursuing an academic career path but are instead eager to lead and potentially commercialize technologies into new ventures.

Required Skills & Experience

  • Proven leadership experience in software development teams.
  • Expertise in scientific/engineering software development for geoscience, engineering, mathematical modeling, or related fields.
  • Proficiency in Python (5+ years) and familiarity with C++ or Rust.
  • Experience with modern software development tools (e.g., version control, CI/CD, testing, documentation).
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Business-oriented mindset with a keen interest in commercializing software innovations.

Desired Skills

  • Experience in numerical modeling of geologic reservoirs and subsurface fluid and energy transport.
  • Experience with ML & AI applications.
  • Basic understanding of physical and thermodynamic processes involved in subsurface fluid flow, heat transfer, and geochemical reactions.
  • Development and deployment of graphical user interfaces (web apps, desktop apps).
  • Parallel computing (GPU & CPU).
  • Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), Docker, Kubernetes.
  • Experience with Flask or Django for web applications.
  • Previous experience or interest in startups and technology commercialization, particularly with SaaS.

Workplace

This is a unique opportunity to lead a software development team within a research group at ETH Zurich, focusing on renewable geothermal energy and climate change (CCS) mitigation solutions. The team contributes to cutting-edge scientific and engineering computing while also exploring commercial pathways for software innovations. If you seek a role that perfectly blends technical excellence, leadership, and business strategy, we invite you to apply online using the form below.

We offer a vibrant and stimulating work environment equipped with advanced computational infrastructure. The GEG Group values an open, inclusive culture and provides opportunities to contribute to the technical development of scientific/engineering software. You will collaborate with national and international research groups and companies and join a motivated team. The position is designed as a long-term role, with an initial one-year appointment, renewed annually based on performance.

We Value Diversity

In line with our values, ETH Zurich fosters an inclusive culture, promoting equality of opportunity and valuing diversity. We strive to create a working and learning environment that respects the rights and dignity of all staff and students. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to learn how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and thrive.

Curious? So Are We.

Only applications matching the job profile will be considered. If you have questions, please reach out to Dieter Werthmüller (GEG Project Manager) at .

About ETH Zürich

ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading universities specializing in science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education, groundbreaking fundamental research, and direct transfer of knowledge into society. Over 30,000 individuals from more than 120 countries consider our university a place that encourages independent thinking and inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, we collaborate globally to develop solutions for today's and tomorrow's challenges.

Location : Zürich
Country : Switzerland

Application Form

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