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 manufac-turing. As a strategic partner of ETH Zurich, our mission is to transfer knowledge and technology from research to Swiss machine, electrical and metal industries.

The research group Laser Material Processing at inspire offers in collaboration with the Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory (AML) at ETH Zurich the following position 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 lies in the realization of novel, bio-inspired surface functionalities that cannot be achieved using conventional manufacturing.

Job description

The 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 exter-nally 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 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 focus on laser technology (AM, pulsed laser or simi-lar)
Min. 3 years of experience in applied research or industrial R&D
Sound technical understanding of pulsed laser technology
Experience with industry or grant-funded projects
Excellent English skills, German 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

We offer

We offer a full-time, permanent position with the prospect of a team leadership role. Through the close cooperation with our project partners, you will quickly establish contacts with Swiss industry, and in our young team you will work at the forefront of today's knowledge in laser material processing.

Curious? So are we.

Please send your full application (cover letter, transcripts, CV, references) with reference ”TC-LA” to Dr. Timo Schudeleit, Head of Laser Material Processing, inspire AG (timo.schudeleit@inspire.ch) and our HR department (hr@inspire.ch). Please also visit our websites and Advanced Manufacturing.