Senior Project Engineer

Driving Advanced Laser Technology and Industrial Growth

Support the continued expansion and execution of advanced laser technology projects through a senior hybrid role. This position balances approximately 60% technical project and program management with approximately 40% hands-on research and development and laser engineering. The role requires deep expertise in laser physics, ultrafast lasers, optics, and nonlinear optics, combined with the ability to structure, coordinate, and drive complex technical development activities involving internal teams and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Project & Program Management

• Plan, structure, coordinate, and execute strategic technical projects and programs, including internal development, customer projects, industrialization, collaborative research, public funding programs, and international development initiatives.
• Define work packages, milestones, deliverables, responsibilities, dependencies, decision points, and reporting mechanisms, translating high-level objectives into actionable engineering activities.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary work across R&D, laser and optical engineering, mechanical and electronics engineering, product development, industrialization, manufacturing, testing, operations, and quality-related functions.
• Monitor progress, follow up on actions, identify risks and bottlenecks early, escalate critical issues where needed, and support mitigation plans to maintain project momentum.
• Coordinate technical discussions, meetings, deliverables, reporting, and alignment with customers, industrial partners, suppliers, research institutions, funding organizations, and other collaborators.

Hands-On R&D & Laser Engineering

• Contribute directly to advanced laser systems, ultrafast laser technology, optical and nonlinear optical systems, and new laser concepts.
• Apply expertise in ultrafast laser physics, nonlinear optics and frequency conversion, resonator and optical system design, pulse propagation and characterization, laser stability and noise, and advanced optical components.
• Analyze complex technical problems, plan and conduct experiments, interpret data, identify root causes, and implement engineering improvements.
• Support product development and industrialization by improving robustness, reproducibility, manufacturability, and technical readiness.

Success Criteria

Success is reflected in clearly structured projects, well-defined deliverables, effective milestone monitoring, early risk identification, strong stakeholder alignment, meaningful technical contributions, and strengthened R&D and engineering capabilities.

Skills & Experience

• Senior technical leadership through expertise, structured coordination, mentoring, collaboration, and contribution to technical decision-making, without immediate formal line-management responsibility.
• Strong background in physics, laser physics, photonics, optics, electrical engineering, engineering physics, or related discipline.
• Substantial experience in laser development, ultrafast lasers, nonlinear optics, optical engineering, R&D engineering, technical project management, and complex technology development programs.
• 10 years of industry experience required.
• Master's degree or PhD.

Languages

Fluent English and proficient German required.

Terms of Employment

• Workload: 100%; maximum 5% travel.
• Working arrangements: On-site.
• Location: Headquarters in Stettbach near Zurich, Switzerland.
• Preferred start date: ASAP.