Lab Manager and Experimental Technical Support Staff

ETH Zürich Vacant since : 03.11.2026 Number of jobs : 1 8050 Zürich (ZH) 20% - 40% By agreement Until 03.11.2027

Einleitungstext At the IDEAL Lab, we develop algorithms and computational models that design physical hardware and validate those designs via physical experiments. We have a growing physical footprint that includes 3D printers, a custom foam cutter, several robotic arms (UR5e), and a variety of small mechatronic test rigs that change depending on the project. We also have a large teaching profile with ~20-30 Bachelor's and Master's students joining the lab each semester for various projects, a subset of which involve robotics or mechatronics-related experiments.

Projekthintergrund We are looking for a part-time technical staff member to act as a Lab Manager and/or coordinating technician, depending on the skillset of the person. The specific roles and responsibilities of this person — and the amount of time/effort required from them — would depend on what they could do based on their experience or desire for future training/growth. The core task would be basic lab operations and safety, as mentioned below — anticipated ~20% time — with an optional/desired role for additional time being the engineering and student support — initially anticipated at 20% time, however, this has the option to grow in the future depending on the skills, usefulness, and desires of the specific candidate.

Aufgaben-/Stellenbeschreibung Basic Lab Operations and Safety (~20% time):

Act as the General Safety Representative for the lab. Train incoming students/staff on safety rules and how to use shared equipment (trainings occur 3-4 times per year for 1-2 hours). Update the safety concept, e.g., once per year or as needed. Keep the lab spaces operational, such as managing inventory, handling purchase requests for supplies, retrieving packages as needed, and working with students to ensure workstations are kept clean and organized.

Coordinate the once-a-year lab cleaning day with staff. Coordinate with staff and students on the maintenance and use of shared equipment such as the 3D printers, robots, and hand tools, as well as repairs when things break, as per the safety concept. This can include delegating tasks to existing staff if appropriate. Act as a point of contact for student questions about where equipment or supplies are located in the lab space.

Generally share personal knowledge and maintain personal relationships. Guide students toward other ETH resources (like other technical workshops or facilities) outside of our immediate lab’s perimeter when they have specific questions/needs (e.g., ETH Tech Pool, off-site laser cutters, Instron machines, etc.). Attend any occasional lab operational meetings with the PI and other staff, or lab retreats as desired, although not recurring lab meetings (unless desired).

Engineering and Student Support (~20% time):

Where appropriate, support research goals by helping or consulting with students and staff to debug and run physical experiments they have planned. This could include helping them build or debug necessary rigs or platforms for various research projects, automating existing procedures from past research projects to make them easier to extend in the future, or building working knowledge of the lab’s robotic infrastructure to more quickly onboard new student projects.

This depends on the specific hands‑on skills of the individual candidate, and also the project needs, as existing students/staff will be the ones largely responsible for setting up and maintaining their own infrastructure. Support research goals by coordinating with outside/external partners, for example, ETH Tech Pool, outside…