Alle Stellen

ETH Zurich is establishing the ETH Swiss GeoLab, a new interdisciplinary unit focused on Earth observation and its applications. The GeoLab applies AI-driven analysis methods and high-performance computing to diverse data sets, developing solutions for societal and economic challenges. Located at the D4 Business Village in Root, near Lucerne, the GeoLab operates at the interface of research, technology development, and practical application. In its initial phase, the GeoLab targets high-impact areas where Earth observation, geodata, and AI-based analytics create value for Switzerland, such as natural hazards, agriculture, and forestry.

Tasks

  • Spearhead the Geo-Intelligence Team and lead the development and implementation of ETH Swiss GeoLab’s geospatial AI, data, and shared platform capabilities.
  • Define and implement the geospatial AI and technical strategy on behalf of the GeoLab leadership team.
  • Establish the target architecture for multimodal foundation models, agentic systems, geospatial data pipelines, compute environments, and the shared Geo-Intelligence Platform.
  • Adopt or set technical standards, priorities, interfaces, and development principles aligned with GeoLab strategy and mission requirements.
  • Drive and lead the design, development, evaluation, and operationalisation of multimodal geospatial foundation models and related agentic capabilities.
  • Encourage, enable, or direct prototyping, benchmarking, validation, and integration activities.
  • Ensure technical work produces reliable, reusable, and operationally relevant capabilities rather than isolated research demonstrators.
  • Own and adapt the technical roadmap and delivery of the shared Geo-Intelligence Platform, including data access, processing pipelines, model-training environments, deployment capabilities, and integration with HPC and cloud infrastructure.
  • Coordinate with CSCS, ETH units, innovation leaders, and technology providers to ensure scalability, security, efficiency, and maintainability.
  • Work with Mission Leads in Natural Hazards, Agriculture, Forestry, and future areas to translate mission requirements into technical capabilities and delivery plans.
  • Assess feasibility, define technical milestones, allocate technical resources, and resolve trade-offs between mission-specific development and reusable platform components.
  • Redirect technical work when evidence, performance, or mission priorities require it.
  • Lead or support technical collaborations with ETH groups, research institutions, CSCS, hyperscalers, companies, start-ups, and open-source communities.
  • Structure joint development activities, evaluate external capabilities, and mobilise partners to accelerate delivery or provide distinctive expertise.

Requirements

  • Master’s or PhD degree in computer science, machine learning, geo-informatics, engineering, remote sensing, or a related field.
  • Several years of experience leading technical AI/ML, geospatial data, or large-scale software and platform development activities, including interactions with user communities.
  • Demonstrated experience defining technical architectures, guiding interdisciplinary teams, and managing technical resources such as platform architectures and large-scale data processing and ML workflows.
  • Strong expertise in machine learning and multimodal foundation models, with a track record of learning and adaptability as the industry and technological tools change, including experience with agentic AI, reasoning systems, or related AI architectures.
  • Excellent understanding of geospatial AI, Earth observation, and remote sensing.
  • Experience with HPC, cloud infrastructure, or distributed computing environments.
  • Proven ability to build reliable, reusable, and operational technical capabilities in a cost-effective and agile manner.
  • Experience working with academic, infrastructure, technology, or industry partners.
  • Excellent written and spoken English; German or French is an asset.
  • Strong technical judgement and ability to set direction under uncertainty.
  • Excitement for technology and a passion to use it to enable breakthrough research and impactful results.
  • Fast learner and strong listener, with the courage to try new approaches and pivot when expectations are not fulfilled.
  • Ability to lead highly qualified specialists, resolve architectural trade-offs, and translate mission needs into scalable technical solutions.
  • Structured, delivery-oriented, and willing to challenge or redirect weak approaches when needed.
  • Effective communicator across scientific, engineering, management, and industry environments, building trust while maintaining clear standards, accountability, and focus on outcomes.

Benefits

  • The opportunity to help build ETH Swiss GeoLab from its early phase and shape a new national competence centre for Earth observation.
  • A senior technical leadership role with high visibility and strategic relevance.
  • The opportunity to develop geospatial AI capabilities with direct application to societal, environmental, and economic challenges.
  • The opportunity to build novel and useful AI, data, and platform capabilities for multiple mission areas.
  • A workplace in Root/Lucerne, embedded in an active innovation ecosystem and closely connected to ETH Zurich.
Bist du Teil dieses Unternehmens?

Dieses Unternehmensprofil wurde automatisch erstellt. Wenn du für ETH Zürich arbeitest, kannst du das Profil jetzt beanspruchen und verifizieren – kostenlos und in wenigen Minuten.

Verifizierte Profile erhalten ein Siegel und können ihre Seite, Stellen und Bewerbungen direkt verwalten.
Über uns
Die ETH Zürich ist eine technisch-naturwissenschaftliche Hochschule des Bundes mit Sitz in Zürich. Wir betreiben Lehre, Forschung und Wissenstransfer in Bereichen wie Ingenieurwissenschaften, Naturwissenschaften, Architektur, Mathematik, Informatik, Management sowie Sozial- und Geisteswissenschaften. Unsere Ausbildung umfasst Bachelor-, Master-, Doktorats- und Weiterbildungsangebote und ist eng mit internationaler Spitzenforschung verbunden. Als Teil des ETH-Bereichs entwickeln wir wissenschaftliche Grundlagen, Technologien und Lösungen für Gesellschaft, Wirtschaft und globale Herausforderungen.
Das Team

The ETH Swiss GeoLab is led by Prof. Dr Verena Griess and Prof. Dr Thomas Zurbuchen, with Dr Felix Seidel as Managing Director. The GeoLab will grow into a project-based hub of around 100 experts and collaborates closely with other ETH units, CSCS, Swiss research institutions, public-sector stakeholders, agricultural organisations, industry partners, start-ups, and international stakeholders.

Ähnliche Stellen