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

ETH Zurich - June 16, 2025

Senior Software Engineer and Technical Lead

80%-100%, Zurich, fixed-term

The Geothermal Energy and Geofluids (GEG) Group is a renowned research unit in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at ETH Zurich, dedicated to investigating a wide range of subsurface mass and energy transfer processes, as well as related power plant processes. We conduct both fundamental and applied research to tackle various societal concerns associated with geothermal energy exploration, extraction, utilization, geological carbon dioxide sequestration, groundwater utilization and contaminant mitigation, and subsurface mass and energy storage. For more details, please visit our website.

Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Scientific Software Engineer to lead our software development efforts at GEG. Our team develops state-of-the-art scientific and engineering software for diverse applications, including geoscience, energy systems, and mathematical modeling. This role is ideal for an experienced software developer with a strong background in scientific computing who is eager to lead a development team, drive innovation, and explore commercial opportunities arising from our research.

The position is linked to a project, requiring an individual who is willing to join on a temporary contract initially, with the potential for a permanent position should the project acquire success.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the software development team, driving best practices and technical excellence.
  • Oversee the development and enhancement of our scientific and engineering software tools, including 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 necessary across different 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 with respect to SaaS applications.

Profile

You possess a strong technical background in scientific and engineering software development, along with leadership capabilities and an entrepreneurial mindset. You are not seeking an academic career track but are enthusiastic about leading teams and potentially spinning off 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 experience 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 an 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, especially 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 and explores commercial pathways for software innovations. If you are looking for a role that blends technical excellence, leadership, and business strategy, we welcome your application.

We provide a dynamic and exciting work environment with cutting-edge computational infrastructure. The GEG Group values an open and inclusive culture. We offer a position that combines the opportunity to contribute to the technical development of scientific/engineering software, 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, renewable annually based on performance.

We Value Diversity

In alignment with our values, ETH Zurich promotes an inclusive culture. We support equality of opportunity, value diversity, and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to learn about how we ensure a fair and open environment that encourages growth and flourishing.

Curious? So Are We.

We look forward to your online application, which can be submitted using the form below. Please include the following documents:

  • Cover letter (detailing why you are interested and qualified for the position)
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Diplomas

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

About ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specializing in science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research, and direct transfer of new knowledge into society. Over 30,000 individuals from more than 120 countries find our university to foster independent thinking and create an environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections across the globe, we collaborate to develop solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s global challenges.

Location : Zürich
Country : Switzerland

Application Form

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