Product Owner - B2B Digital Ecosystem Platform at ETH Space 50%

ETH Zurich; Zürich; Presencial; CHF 120.000 - 160.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

ETH Zurich Space seeks a Product Owner to drive a highly secure, closed B2B platform in collaboration with ESA. You will translate ecosystem needs into precise technical specs, select the right development partner, and own delivery from concept to production.

You will lead requirement workshops, shape a production-ready backlog, govern security and data residency, and work with engineers across Europe to deliver a scalable platform for space startups and researchers.

Formación

• Education: university degree in computer science or related field.
• Experience: minimum 5 years as Product Owner/Manager delivering complex web-based B2B portals or enterprise software.
• Technical skills: web app frameworks, API/webhook architecture, RBAC, AI/LLM deployment frameworks.
• Data/AI: experience defining requirements for AI-driven matching engines or data pipelines.
• Language: full professional fluency in English; German a plus.

Responsabilidades

• Lead stakeholder scoping workshops with diverse user groups including institutional managers, corporate partners, and startup founders.
• Finalize product specifications and produce a comprehensive backlog.
• Vendor & partner management: oversee external development partner onboarding and evaluations.
• Roadmap ownership: manage project timeline and milestones for timely deployment.
• Oversee development, testing and deployment cycles with governance, security and quality controls.
• Define and enforce platform governance, including access control, secure integrations and data residency compliance.
• Communicate with stakeholders to align perspectives and ensure delivery of promised results.

Descripción del empleo

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.

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

• 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.

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.