Senior Project Engineer / Senior Project Engineeress

Senior Project Engineer - Technical Coordination in Laser Ablation and Surface Functionalization with Prospect of a Team Leadership Role

100%, Zurich, Permanent

inspire AG is the leading Swiss competence center for product innovation and advanced manufacturing. As a strategic partner of ETH Zurich, our mission is to transfer knowledge and technology from research to the Swiss machine, electrical, and metal industries.

The research group on Laser Material Processing at inspire offers, in collaboration with the Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory (AML) at ETH Zurich, an exciting opportunity in the field of laser ablation and technical project coordination.

Project Background

Our research group develops and applies pulsed laser technologies for five-axis material processing with micrometer-scale precision down to 1 µm, enabling the fabrication of complex three-dimensional microstructures. The work combines high-precision, force-free laser processing with automated inspection and process monitoring to ensure robustness and reproducibility. A particular focus is placed on realizing novel, bio-inspired surface functionalities that cannot be achieved using conventional manufacturing methods.

Job Description

This role is highly project-oriented and positioned at the interface between applied research and industrial implementation. Its primary objective is the coordination and strategic alignment of externally conducted research projects, while proactively shaping and building new research themes, platforms, and collaborative formats in the field of pulsed laser processing within multi-annual industrial and publicly funded initiatives.

Your Tasks

• Technical and organizational coordination of external industry and grant projects
• Acquisition of projects
• Structuring and follow-up of project ideas
• Execution and coordination of pre-studies
• Preparation of industry and grant proposals
• Development of collaboration opportunities with other research groups
• Development of strategic consortium and platform research
• Organizational support for the department head

Profile

Required Experience

• Doctoral degree (ETH, university) with a focus on laser technology (AM, pulsed laser, or similar)
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in applied research or industrial R&D
• Strong technical understanding of pulsed laser technology
• Experience with industry or grant-funded projects
• Excellent English skills; German language proficiency is an advantage
• CH/EU/EFTA citizenship or a valid work permit for Switzerland

Required People Skills

• Proactive, self-driven working style with a strong sense of ownership
• Highly structured and well-organized approach, combined with a clear solution-oriented mindset
• Strong motivation to continuously acquire and develop new skills

Workplace

Your workplace will be within a dynamic team that is at the forefront of knowledge in laser material processing.

We Offer

We provide a full-time, permanent position with the prospect of a team leadership role. Through close cooperation with our project partners, you will rapidly establish contacts within the Swiss industry, and through our young team, you will be engaged in cutting-edge advancements in laser material processing.

Curious? So Are We.

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.