Postdoctoral Position in Mechanical Engineering

ETH Zurich

Position: Post-doctoral Researcher – Machine Learning for Engineering Design
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Employment: Full-time (100%), Fixed-term (~2 years, initial 1-year contract, possible extension)
Start Date: Flexible, ideally Jan–Mar 2026
Application Deadline: November 1, 2025

Laboratory & Project Overview

  • Lab: Laboratory for Intelligence in Design Engineering and Learning (IDEAL), Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich

  • Supervisor: Prof. Mark Fuge, Chair of Artificial Intelligence in Engineering Design

  • Focus: AI and Machine Learning applications in Engineering Design (healthcare, aerospace, power generation, robotics)

  • Objective: Build on past work in AI-guided design, inverse design, and optimization; contribute to research infrastructure and scientific leadership.

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop or analyze novel Machine Learning algorithms for engineering design (Inverse Design, Surrogate Modeling, Generative Modeling).

  • Collaborate with industry, academia, and national labs to translate real-world needs into scientific questions.

  • Deploy and optimize simulation or algorithm pipelines on HPC systems.

  • Contribute to lab infrastructure setup and maintenance.

  • Publish research, present at conferences, and participate in scholarly outreach.

  • Write portions of research proposals.

  • Supervise Ph.D., Master's, and/or Bachelor's students.

  • Assist in relevant teaching efforts.

Candidate Profile

Required:

  • Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Robotics, or related field.

  • Strong research track record in journal publications or competitive conferences.

  • Expertise in some of: Machine Learning, Computational Simulations (CFD, FEA), HPC, Software Engineering.

  • Strong English communication skills; collaborative and multinational teamwork experience.

Preferred:

  • Knowledge of ML/HPC tools: PyTorch, JAX, Python, Julia, Docker, Singularity.

  • Robotics, manufacturing, computer vision, or language models experience (optional).

  • Familiarity with professional software practices: code quality, version control (Git/GitHub).

  • Leadership and interpersonal skills aligned with ETH’s six core competencies: acting responsibly, nurturing well-being, driving innovation, living inclusivity, building bridges, enabling people.

Benefits & Workplace

  • Flexible working conditions, including partial remote work.

  • Autonomy to develop independent research.

  • Access to world-class research infrastructure and creative, multicultural teams.

  • Support for professional development and mentoring.

  • Strong postdoc placement track record at ETH.

  • Family-friendly policies and excellent working conditions.

Application Instructions

Required Documents (PDF, include last name in file names):

  1. Cover Letter (≤2 pages) addressed to Prof. Mark Fuge, detailing motivation and alignment with criteria.

  2. Curriculum Vitae with list of publications.

  3. Contact information for two references (letters not required initially).

  4. (Optional) Short research statement outlining future research interests.

Submission: Online portal only – applications via email/post not accepted.

Contact: Mrs. Martina Koch, Adm. Assistant, Tel: 044 632 45 16, Email: martikoc@ethz.ch (for inquiries only).

About ETH Zurich:
One of the world’s leading science and technology universities, ETH Zurich offers excellent education, cutting-edge research, and a highly international and collaborative environment.

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