Technical Director - AI for Design - ETH Manufacturing4X Center TheDepartment of Mechanical and Process Engineering at ETH Zurich invites applications from experienced scientists (Post-Doc level, Established Researcher,or above) specializing in Artificial Intelligence forDesign to build and lead a research group as part of the newly formedManufacturing4X Center.The initial appointment will be made at either the Post-Doctoral or Established Researcherlevel (non-permanent),with a pathway and intent to eventually promote the candidateto a Senior Scientist (permanent) position.
Project background Successful candidates are expected to run a world-class research and teaching program that emphasizes industrial translation of Artificial Intelligence methods within a Design and Manufacturing context.This position is envisaged to be part of ETH’s Center for Manufacturing (Manufacturing4X)founded in Fall 2025. The selected candidate will supportthe development and execution of educational and mentoring activities, as well as the supervision of doctoral students in the area of Artificial Intelligence and Design. He/she will further support the acquisition and coordination of industry-focused projects, involving many ETH students and researchers, and become a bridge not only between ETH and Industry, but across different groups and collaborative partners within ETH.
This is a research and leadership position in the new manufacturing center, and as suchyour responsibilities may include:
Craftinga strategic research vision for the future of Artificial Intelligence within Design in the context of a Manufacturing Center focused on translating fundamental research into industry impact.
Building and managing a group of researchers (e.g., Ph.D.students) to achieve this research vision, in collaboration with participating faculty members, labs, and industrial partners, as well as building your (and the center's) international research profile, e.g., through publications and dissemination.
Working actively with Industry partners to address translation research challenges in the AI and Design space. Thisincludesformulating projects and applying for funding to execute those projects via national or international funding bodies in both basic and applied research.
Working independently or with other scientific staff to deploy simulationoralgorithm pipelines on advanced computational infrastructure, such as High-Performance Computing systems.
Participating/organizingactivities and outreach withinthe ETH Manufacturing4X Center.
Supervising Ph.D., Masters, and/or Bachelors student projects as relevant to your research group.
Coordinating teaching efforts for relevant coursework to you group either internally at ETHZ or externally (e.g., short workshops or courses for industry).
Profile The following are some characteristics that align well with the position:
You are expected to have aPh.D. degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or related fields with an excellent track record in competitive publication venues appropriate to your research field.
You should have experience managing research teams, including setting a research vision, managing multiple projects and researchers, and enabling growth in junior researchers (e.g., Ph.D. students).
You should possess strong English language skillsand the ability to work successfully and collaboratively on diverse, multinational teams.
Demonstrated ability to partner with Industry in a research context (e.g., on joint research projects, securing industry-relevant grant funding, etc.)
You have an interest in teaching, particularly in project-based courses with hands-on learning experiences or with computational elements relevant to Artificial Intelligence or Optimization, in addition to running yourresearch group.
Since this is a leadership position, your skills should align withETH Zurich'ssix core competencies that we expect from all employees.
Preferred candidates will possess some of the following characteristics (although these are not strictly required):
Proficiency in German, Swiss-German, and/or French.
Knowledge of and demonstrated capabilities inprofessional project and software development practices demonstrated in a team-based, research setting.
Experience with the Swiss- or EU-based funding programs.
We encourage candidates to apply even if they do not think they possess every point above, particularly for candidateswho may not have had access to certain development opportunities. We will work with any selected candidates to develop targeted competencies on a personalized basis.
Your profile should complement research and teaching within theInstitute of Design, Materials and Fabrication. This position would initially be jointly coordinated and fundedby the Chair ofEngineeringDesign & Computing (Prof. Kristina Shea) and the Chair of Artificial Intelligence in Engineering Design (Prof. Mark Fuge), so alignment/collaborationwith the research and teaching efforts within or between those two groups is preferred.
Workplace We offer The initial appointment will be made at either the Post-Doctoral or Established Researcher/Scientific Collaboratorleveldepending on the work experience and seniority of the candidate, and starts as a non-permanent position with a renewable yearly contract based on performance. The intent of this position is eventually to lead to a long-term career within the center, with promotion to a (permanent) Senior Scientist role, subject to the tenure and promotion rules of ETH. The anticipated start date for the position is flexible, ideally in Q4 of 2025 or Q1 of 2026, with the exact start date to be mutually agreed upon to match youremployment or family needs. The position is designed as a full-time (100%) appointment, however, we can offer flexibility in both time and location (home office possibility from your residence in Switzerland) as needed to best enable an individual's needs and well-being. ETH Zurich is a family-friendly employer with excellent working conditions. In addition to this, you can look forward to:
World-class research infrastructure and excellent working conditions guided by our common understanding of a supportiveshared work culture .
A high level of autonomy to develop your skills as an independent researcher.
Opportunities to work with a diverse, motivated, and multi-cultural team in a creative research environment.
Support for personalized professional development and mentoring with the ability to build a strong support network for your future career, and be part of a laboratory with a strong track record of placing post-doctoral employees into competitive research positions and professorships.
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 through this portal and it should contain the following documents in PDF format (make sure your last name is on all the documents and in the file name):
A Cover Letter (maximum 2 pages) addressed to Prof. Kristina Shea and Prof. Mark Fuge describing your motivation to apply for the position in line with the criteria mentioned above.
A Curriculum Vitae, including a list of publications.
Aresearch vision statement describing your desired future research thrusts that you want to lead and grow as Technical Director of this pillar of the center.
Contact information for two references, which can be appended to the CV or provided as a separate PDF if you prefer. No reference letters are needed at the time of application, and we will notify you in advance if we intend to reach out to them or request letters.
For best consideration, please submit the above application by October 25th, 2025 .
Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.
Further information about our labcan be found on our website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Mrs Martina Koch, Adm. Assistant, Tel 044 632 45 16or email martikoc@ethz.ch(no applications).
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.
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