Senior Software Engineer and Technical Lead

Senior Software Engineer and Technical Lead

The Geothermal Energy and Geofluids (GEG) Group is a renowned research unit in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at ETH Zurich investigating a wide range of subsurface mass and energy transfer processes as well as related power plant processes. We conduct both fundamental and applied research to address a wide range of societal concerns related to geothermal energy exploration, extraction, and utilization, geologic carbon dioxide sequestration, combinations thereof, groundwater utilization and contaminant mitigation, subsurface mass (e.g. gas) and energy storage, and more. For more details, please see our website .

We are seeking a Senior Scientific Software Engineer to lead our software development efforts at the GEG. Our team develops state-of-the-art scientific and engineering software for a wide range of applications, including geoscience, energy systems, and mathematical modeling. This role is ideal for an experienced software developer with a strong background in scientific computing who is eager to lead a development team, drive innovation, and explore commercial opportunities arising from our research.

The position is linked to a project, therefore we are looking for a person who is willing to join on a temporary contract first, with a potential perspective to turn the assignment into a permanent position in case of successful project acquisition.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the software development team, driving best practices and technical excellence.
• Oversee the development and improvement of our scientific/engineering software tools, including applications in geoscience, optimization, and techno-economic modeling.
• Guide the team in modern software development practices (e.g., version control, documentation, testing, continuous integration).
• Adapt software for parallel computing, optimization workflows, and high-performance computing environments.
• Contribute to software deployment, testing, and benchmarking across multiple platforms.
• Assist with other software development, data analysis and visualization tasks as needed across different projects.
• Contribute to the development of ML and AI components within GEG software, including physics-informed ML/AI models, proxy models, input-output pattern recognition, data gap detection and interpolation, and knowledge-informed prompt generation for model input assistance.
• Explore opportunities for commercializing software innovations within the group, in particular regarding SaaS applications.

Profile

You have a strong technical background in scientific/engineering software development, along with leadership skills and an entrepreneurial mindset. You are not looking for an academic career track but rather are eager to lead and potentially spin off technologies into new ventures.

Required Skills & Experience

• Proven leadership experience in software development teams.
• Expertise in scientific/engineering software development for geoscience, engineering, mathematical modeling, or related fields.
• Proficiency in Python (5+ years) and some experience with C++ or Rust.
• Experience with modern software development tools (e.g., version control, CI/CD, testing, documentation).
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Business-oriented mindset with an 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 involved in subsurface fluid flow, heat transfer, and geochemical reactions.
• Development and deployment of graphical user interfaces (web apps, desktop apps)
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), Docker, Kubernetes.
• Experience with Flask or Django for web applications.
• Previous experience or interest in startups and technology commercialization, in particular with SaaS.

Workplace

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 (CCS) mitigation solutions. The team contributes to cutting-edge scientific and engineering computing, and explores commercial pathways for software innovations. If you are looking for a role that blends technical excellence, leadership, and business strategy, we would like to see your application.

We provide a dynamic and exciting work environment with cutting-edge computational infrastructure. The GEG Group values an open and inclusive group culture. We offer a position that combines the opportunity to contribute to the technical development of scientific/engineering software, collaborate with national and international research groups and companies, and join a motivated team. The position is designed as a long-term role, with an initial one-year appointment, renewable annually based on performance.

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.

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

• Cover letter (detailing why you are interested and qualified for the position)
• Diplomas

If you have questions, please reach out to Dieter Werthmüller (GEG Project Manager), dieter.werthmuller@eaps.ethz.ch. Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal.

We would like to point out that the pre-selection is carried out by the responsible recruiters and not by artificial intelligence.

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising inscience and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education,cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledgeinto society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find ouruniversity to be a place that promotes independent thinking and anenvironment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe,yet forging connections all over the world, we work together todevelop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.