Legal Counsel / Contracts Specialist – Deep Tech, Material Sciences & Engineering

ETH Zurich; Zürich; Hybrid; CHF 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Pension schemes

Public transport discounts

Campus facilities access (ASVZ)

Job summary

ETH Zurich is seeking a Legal Counsel / Contracts Specialist for its Deep Tech, Material Sciences & Engineering portfolio. You will negotiate complex research agreements, MTAs, and technology‑transfer arrangements, focusing on IP ownership, licensing, and risk management to protect ETH’s interests while enabling collaboration with industry and academia.

Ideal candidates hold a Master’s degree in law and 3+ years in contract drafting, IP management, and negotiations within tech sectors.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Law (MLaw/LL.M./State Exam) or equivalent.
• 3+ years of contract drafting, negotiation, and IP management experience.
• Solid IP law, licensing, and liability knowledge with tech interests.
• Excellent negotiation and written English; German at B2/C1 level.
• Team-oriented with high service orientation and diplomacy.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate complex research agreements, MTAs, NDAs, and consortium contracts.
• Advise on IP allocation, foreground/background rights, and publication terms.
• Represent ETH in negotiations with industry partners and universities.
• Collaborate with compliance, export control, and licensing centers.
• Develop contract templates and run knowledge-transfer workshops.

Skills

Negotiation

Contract drafting

IP management

Stakeholder communication

Education

Master’s degree in Law (MLaw / LL.M. / State Examination or equivalent)

Job description

Legal Counsel / Contracts Specialist – Deep Tech, Material Sciences & Engineering

About ETH Zurich & The Research Contracts Team ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities for science, technology, and engineering, renowned for pioneering research, cutting‑edge breakthroughs, and high‑impact technology transfer.

Within the Vice Presidency for Knowledge Transfer and Corporate Relations, the Research Contracts Office serves as the vital legal backbone of ETH’s innovation ecosystem. With a collaborative team of over 20 specialized legal professionals, we are one of Switzerland’s premier in‑house legal teams at the intersection of technology, industry, and law. We foster an open, supportive culture of continuous learning, mutual peer sparring, and collective expertise, while granting each legal counsel high autonomy in managing their strategic portfolio.

Your Role at the Cutting Edge of Innovation In this key role, you will be the legal partner and trusted advisor for researchers across world-renowned departments, including Material Science, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, and Advanced Manufacturing.

You will operate directly at the interface of groundbreaking science and global industry. Your daily work involves negotiating agreements for projects that shape the future – ranging from sustainable energy systems, quantum materials, and robotics to advanced composites and novel chemical processes. You will translate complex scientific and commercial expectations into robust contractual architectures, with a paramount focus on intellectual property (IP), strategic licensing, and risk mitigation.

• Draft and Negotiate High‑Stakes Contracts: Independently structure, draft, and negotiate complex research agreements, multi‑party consortium agreements, technology transfer agreements, material transfers (MTAs), and NDAs with leading global corporations, agile start‑ups, and international consortia.
• Lead Strategic IP & Rights Architecture: Advise professors, project managers, and tech leads on critical intellectual property allocations, ownership of foreground results, proprietary background protection, software licensing, and publication rights – safeguarding ETH’s academic freedom while enabling industrial exploitation.
• Partner with Global Industry & Academia: Act as a confident and solution‑driven negotiator representing ETH Zurich in negotiations with international tech giants, Swiss industrial champions, and world‑class universities.
• Collaborate with In‑House Centers of Excellence: Work in close synergy with ETH transfer (patents & spin‑offs), the General Counsel’s office, export control specialists, and compliance teams to design seamless, consistent legal solutions.
• Shape Processes & Knowledge Transfer: Contribute to evolving contract templates, best‑practice negotiation playbooks, and conduct workshops for the research community on contractual and IP best practices.

Profile

We are looking for an analytical, business‑minded, and tech‑savvy legal professional who thrives in a diverse, intellectually stimulating, and fast‑paced environment.

• Legal Qualification: Master’s degree in Law (MLaw / LL.M. / State Examination or equivalent). A background in Swiss law is an asset; qualifications with an international/common law background and strong tech contract expertise are equally welcome.
• Professional Experience: Ideally 3+ years of relevant experience in contract drafting, negotiation, and IP management – acquired within an international technology company, a top‑tier law firm, a research institution, or an innovation‑driven corporate in‑house team.
• IP & Tech Affinity: A solid grasp of intellectual property law, licensing mechanics, and liability frameworks, coupled with a genuine curiosity for engineering, physical sciences, and emerging deep‑tech trends.
• Negotiation & Communication Prowess: Strong negotiation skills, a pragmatic "deal-maker" attitude, and the ability to find balanced, legally sound solutions without unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Languages: Excellent command of English (spoken and written) as your primary negotiation and drafting language. In addition, sound working proficiency in German (at least level B2/C1) is essential: while international contracts are handled in English, German is our daily office and team language, used in internal meetings, departmental exchanges, and for occasional German‑language contracts. French is a plus.
• Team Mindset: An open, collaborative colleague who values active knowledge‑sharing, enjoys intellectual sparring, and approaches researchers with high service orientation and diplomacy.

Workplace

We offer

• Exceptional Legal Team Culture: A supportive environment within an established team of 20+ lawyers where knowledge is shared generously and legal challenges are tackled together.
• Front‑Row Seat in Deep Tech: Direct insight into cutting‑edge scientific innovations before they reach the market.
• High Autonomy & Flexibility: Manage your own portfolio with hybrid/flexible working models and modern infrastructure.
• Attractive Employment Conditions: Competitive compensation, comprehensive pension schemes, public transport discounts, and access to ETH’s extensive sports and campus facilities (ASVZ).

In line with our values , ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. Sustainability is a core value for us – we are consistently working towards a climate‑neutral future.

Curious? So are we.

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising 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 people from more than 120 countries find our university to be a place that promotes independent thinking and an environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections all over the world, we work together to develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.