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

About the Geothermal Energy and Geofluids (GEG) Group

The Geothermal Energy and Geofluids (GEG) Group is a renowned research unit within the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at ETH Zurich, dedicated to investigating a broad spectrum of subsurface mass and energy transfer processes along with related power plant operations.

Our team engages in both fundamental and applied research to tackle pressing societal issues surrounding geothermal energy exploration, extraction, and utilization, geologic carbon dioxide sequestration, groundwater utilization, contaminant mitigation, subsurface mass and energy storage, and more. For further details, please visit our website.

Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Scientific Software Engineer to spearhead our software development initiatives at GEG. Our team creates cutting-edge scientific and engineering software applicable to various fields, including geoscience, energy systems, and mathematical modeling. This role is perfect for an experienced software developer with a robust background in scientific computing, who is enthusiastic about leading a development team, driving innovation, and exploring commercial opportunities emerging from our research.

The position is linked to a project, and we are initially looking for a candidate willing to join on a temporary contract, with the potential for a permanent position based on successful project acquisition.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the software development team, championing best practices and technical excellence.
• Oversee the development and enhancement of our scientific and engineering software.
• Guide the team in modern software development practices, including version control.
• Adapt software for parallel computing and optimize workflows in high-performance computing environments.
• Contribute to software deployment, testing, and benchmarking across multiple platforms.
• Assist with various software development, data analysis, and visualization tasks across different projects.
• Contribute to the development of ML and AI components within GEG software, including physics-informed models, proxy models, and data gap techniques.
• Explore opportunities to commercialize software innovations, particularly SaaS applications.

Profile

The ideal candidate will possess a strong technical background in scientific and engineering software development, complemented by leadership abilities and an entrepreneurial mindset. Instead of pursuing an academic career, you are eager to lead initiatives and potentially transform technologies into new ventures.

Required Skills & Experience

• Proven leadership experience within software development teams.
• Expertise in scientific and engineering software development, particularly in geoscience or related fields.
• Proficiency in Python (5+ years) and familiarity with C++ or Rust.
• Experience with modern development tools such as version control, CI/CD, and testing.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Business-oriented mindset with an eagerness to commercialize software innovations.

Desired Skills

• Experience in numerical modeling of geologic reservoirs and subsurface fluid dynamics.
• Background in ML & AI applications.
• Basic understanding of physical and thermodynamic processes related to subsurface fluid flow and heat transfer.
• Development of graphical user interfaces (web and desktop applications).
• Experience with parallel computing (GPU & CPU).
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), Docker, Kubernetes.
• Experience with Flask or Django for web development.
• A keen interest in startups and technology commercialization, particularly with SaaS.

What We Offer

This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a software development team within a research group at ETH Zurich, focusing on renewable geothermal energy and climate change mitigation solutions.

Our team contributes to advanced scientific and engineering computing while exploring commercial paths for software innovations. If you seek a role that combines technical excellence, leadership, and business strategy, we encourage you to apply online using the form below.

Our dynamic and engaging work environment features cutting-edge computational infrastructure. The GEG Group values an open and inclusive culture, and we offer a position that integrates the technical development of scientific and engineering software, collaboration with national and international research groups, and participation in a motivated team.

The position is designed as a long-term role, commencing with an initial one-year appointment, renewable annually based on performance.

Diversity and Inclusion

Aligning with our values, ETH Zurich fosters an inclusive culture that promotes equality of opportunity, values diversity, and cultivates a working and learning environment where the rights and dignity of all staff and students are respected. For more information, visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to see how we ensure a fair and open environment that enables everyone to flourish.

Interested?

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

• Cover letter detailing your interest and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Diplomas.

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