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

About the GEG Group

The Geothermal Energy and Geofluids (GEG) Group is a distinguished research unit within the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at ETH Zurich. Our team investigates a broad spectrum of subsurface mass and energy transfer processes, as well as associated power plant technologies.

We engage in both fundamental and applied research to tackle various societal challenges concerning:

• Geothermal energy exploration, extraction, and utilization
• Geologic carbon dioxide sequestration
• Groundwater utilization and contaminant mitigation
• Subsurface mass (e.g., gas) and energy storage
• And much more.

To learn more, feel free to explore our website.

Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Scientific Software Engineer to lead our software development initiatives at GEG. Our team creates state-of-the-art scientific and engineering software catering to diverse applications, including geoscience, energy systems, and mathematical modeling. This position is perfect for a seasoned software developer with a robust background in scientific computing who is enthusiastic about leading a development team, fostering innovation, and pursuing commercial opportunities emerging from our research.

This role is initially tied to a project, and we are looking for a candidate who is open to starting with a temporary contract, with the possibility of transitioning to a permanent role contingent on successful project acquisition.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the software development team, instilling best practices and ensuring technical excellence.
• Oversee the enhancement and evolution of our scientific and engineering software.
• Guide the team in adopting modern software development methodologies.
• Adapt software for parallel computing, optimization workflows, and high-performance computing environments.
• Contribute to software deployment, testing, and benchmarking across multiple platforms.
• Assist in software development, data analysis, and visualization tasks across various projects, as needed.
• Help develop machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) components for GEG software, including physics-informed models, proxy models, data gap detection, and more.
• Explore potential commercialization of software innovations, particularly regarding SaaS applications.

Profile

The ideal candidate possesses a solid technical background in scientific and engineering software development, complemented by leadership abilities and an entrepreneurial spirit. You are not pursuing a traditional academic career path but aspire to lead and potentially translate technologies into new ventures.

Required Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in leading software development teams.
• Expertise in scientific or engineering software development within geoscience, engineering, or mathematical modeling.
• Proficiency in Python (5+ years) and familiarity with C++ or Rust.
• Experience with modern software development tools (e.g., version control, CI/CD, testing, and documentation).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• 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 in subsurface fluid flow, heat transfer, and geochemical reactions.
• Development and deployment of graphical user interfaces (web and desktop applications).
• Parallel computing expertise (GPU & CPU).
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), Docker, and Kubernetes.
• Experience with Flask or Django for web applications.
• Previous experience or interest in start-ups and technology commercialization, particularly regarding SaaS.

What We Offer

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 mitigation strategies. Our team is engaged in cutting-edge scientific and engineering computing while exploring commercial avenues for software innovations.

If you are seeking a role that merges technical expertise, leadership, and business strategy, we encourage you to apply online using the form below.

We provide a dynamic and stimulating work environment equipped with state-of-the-art computational infrastructure. The GEG Group values an open and inclusive culture, fostering collaboration with national and international research institutions and companies, all within a motivated team setting. This position is structured as a long-term role, starting with an initial one-year appointment and renewable annually based on performance.

Commitment to Diversity

Aligned with our core values, ETH Zurich fosters an inclusive culture. We champion equality of opportunity, celebrate diversity, and cultivate an environment where the rights and dignity of all staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to discover how we promote a fair and open atmosphere that enables everyone to thrive.

Curious? So Are We!

We look forward to receiving your application. Remember, only applications matching the job profile will be considered.