Lab Manager and Experimental Technical Support Staff

About the role

The Artificial Intelligence in Engineering Design Lab at ETH Zurich is looking for a part-time technical staff member to act as Lab Manager and/or coordinating technician, depending on the candidate's skills. The core task is basic lab operations and safety (about 20% time), with an optional engineering and student support role (initially about 20% time, with room to grow).

Key responsibilities

• Act as General Safety Representative: train incoming students and staff on safety rules and shared equipment use (3-4 times a year, 1-2 hours), update the safety concept, and coordinate the annual lab cleaning day.
• Keep the lab operational: manage inventory, handle supply purchase requests, retrieve packages, and help keep workstations clean and organized.
• Coordinate maintenance and repair of shared equipment such as 3D printers, robots and hand tools, and delegate tasks to existing staff when appropriate.
• Be the point of contact for student questions about equipment and supplies, and guide students to other ETH resources such as the TechPool, laser cutters and Instron machines.
• Support research by helping students and staff debug and run physical experiments, build or automate rigs and platforms, and coordinate with external partners for experimental equipment.
• Maintain a few lab demos for visitors and assist PhD students and post-docs in moving their projects between semesters.

Required profile

• Practical background (e.g. FH, B.Sc. or M.Sc.) in mechanical engineering, mechatronics, robotics or a related field.
• Hands-on expertise with 3D printing, small robotics (such as UR5e) and basic electronics, sensors or mechatronic systems.
• Enjoys working with and mentoring students on varied, creative projects while ensuring safety and pragmatism.
• Organized, practical, team player who is comfortable enforcing lab safety rules and keeping the workspace tidy.

Required skills

• Comfortable with small hand tools and small robotic cobots (e.g. UR5e) in ROS/ROS2 environments.
• Able to develop small sensor packages and electronic setups for measuring device performance (RPMs, distances, thrusts and forces).
• Able to read engineering drawings from external partners such as ETH TechPool.

What we offer

• World-class research infrastructure and a supportive shared work culture within the chair's team and the department's technicians team.
• Flexible working hours and regular professional and personal exchange.
• Professional development courses, public transport passes, car sharing, sports membership, childcare and pension benefits through the PUBLICA pension fund.

Applications are made only through the online application portal, with a cover letter, resume and certificates of employment.