Product Owner - B2B Digital Ecosystem Platform at ETH Space

Immigration Policy Lab; Zürich; On-site; CHF 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

High-impact role at ETH Zurich Space

Zurich workplace

3-year fixed-term contract

Job summary

ETH Zurich Space in Zurich seeks a Product Owner to bridge a diverse international network of stakeholders and software engineers. You will translate ecosystem needs into clear technical specifications and take ownership of timely delivery from concept through implementation.

You will lead workshops, finalize production-ready specifications, manage external partners, and oversee a cross-border roadmap, development, and security governance for a data-driven B2B platform.

Qualifications

• University degree in computer science or related field; open to other degrees with relevant work experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead stakeholder scoping workshops: plan and facilitate requirement workshops with diverse user groups to align expectations and unify the product vision.
• Finalize product specifications: evolve draft concept into production-ready specs and backlog.
• Vendor & partner management: lead evaluation and onboarding for external software development partner.
• Roadmap ownership: manage project timeline and milestones for timely delivery.
• Oversee development & quality: supervise external implementation partner through development, testing, and deployment.
• Ensure technical & security excellence: define governance, RBAC, data residency, and scalable architecture.
• Stakeholder management: interact with diverse stakeholders to keep project on track and deliver results.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Vendor management

Independent work style

Proactive

Service-oriented

Complex projects

Interpersonal skills

English proficiency

Education

University degree in CS

Tools

APIs

Webhook architecture

RBAC

AI deployment frameworks

Job description

Product Owner – B2B Digital Ecosystem Platform at ETH Space

50%, Zurich, fixed-term

ETH Zurich | Space’s mission is to boost space activities to establish ETH Zurich as the leading university in space research and Earth observation, education and entrepreneurship within Europe and beyond. ETH Zurich | Space encompasses overall five units: Education, Research, Entrepreneurship, the ETH Swiss GeoLab, and the space mission LIFE.

Please apply until 31.10.2026

Project background

In support of our initiatives within the Entrepreneurship unit of ETH Zurich | Space, we are spearheading the creation of a highly secure, closed B2B digital platform in collaboration with ESA and their ESA Commercialization network. The ultimate objective of this ecosystem platform is to give the European space startup and industry ecosystem a boost, by facilitating more cross-border connections, commercial deals, and collaboration across Europe, to accelerate companies’ development overall.

The platform is designed to connect international institutional stakeholders, space and related industry partners, startup founders (e.g. from ESA Business Incubation Centers across Europe), and other important players. The platform will integrate data-driven insights and advanced matching capabilities (including via AI).

We are seeking a structured and driven Product Owner to take this initiative from its initial concept phase through finalized specification, vendor selection, and full-scale implementation. Rapid prototyping, beta testing and continuous learning are considered key in the development process.

Job description

In this role, you will serve as the strategic bridge between a diverse network of high-profile international stakeholders (e.g. from ESA, space companies, ESA BIC managers), agile entrepreneurs (e.g. from the ESA BIC network), and software engineers. You will lead the requirements engineering process, translate ecosystem needs into clear technical specifications, select the right development partner, and take ultimate ownership of the project's timely delivery.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead stakeholder scoping workshops: plan and facilitate targeted requirement workshops with diverse user groups – ranging from institutional managers and corporate partners to startup founders – to align expectations and unify the product vision.
• Finalize product specifications: evolve the current draft concept into a comprehensive, production-ready product specification package and structured backlog.
• Vendor & partner management: lead the technical evaluation and onboarding process for the external software development partner.
• Roadmap ownership: manage the overarching project timeline, ensuring key milestones are met for a timely, high-quality deployment.
• Oversee development & quality: supervise the external implementation partner throughout the development, testing, and deployment cycles, ensuring rigorous adherence to timelines and scope.
• Ensure technical & security excellence: Define and enforce robust platform governance, including strict role-based access management, secure third-party data integrations, high-standard data residency compliance, and system scalability.
• Stakeholder management: beyond the scoping workshops, you are the principal person to interact with diverse stakeholders, to integrate their different perspectives, and to make sure that the project stays on track and delivers the promised results.

Profile

Education: a university degree in computer science or a related field is expected. We are open to other degrees if you have significant, relevant work experience.

Experience: you have a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience with a proven track record as a Product Owner or Product Manager leading the delivery of complex web-based B2B portals, collaboration networks, or enterprise-grade software applications.

Technical skills:

• Strong technical literacy: sound understanding of modern web application frameworks, API / webhook architecture, role-based access control, and modern AI / LLM deployment frameworks.
• Data & AI savviness: experience defining requirements for smart matching engines, data-processing pipelines, or AI-driven user feeds is highly advantageous

Competencies & personality:

• Stakeholder management: exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills with a demonstrated ability to navigate and build consensus within academic, (inter-) governmental (like ESA), corporate and startup environments.
• Vendor management expertise: practical experience in coordinating external software development vendor, supervising agile sprints, and overseeing quality assurance/testing phases.
• Independent approach and strong organizational skills
• Proactive and reliable personality
• Solution-oriented and service-oriented working style
• Enjoy working with complex project structures
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build bridges across teams and cultures

Language proficiency: full professional fluency in English (written and spoken) is required, German is a plus.

Workplace

We offer

• A high-impact management role at a world-class institution, directly driving innovation within the rapidly expanding space technology ecosystem.
• A vibrant, intellectually stimulating work environment at ETH Zurich I Space based in Zurich.
• The opportunity to shape a long-term digital, cross-European infrastructure project from its foundational stages.
• A workplace in downtown Zurich.
• Fixed-term contract for 3 years (possibly with option to extend).

We value diversity and sustainability

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.

About ETH Zürich

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.