Head of Geospatial AI - Foundation Models and Geo-Intelligence Platform

Job description

As Head of Geospatial AI, you will spearhead the Geo-Intelligence Team and own the development and implementation of ETH Swiss GeoLab’s geospatial AI, data and shared platform capabilities. With domain experts from academia and the tech industry, you will help define the technical strategy and architecture for multimodal foundation models, agentic AI systems, geospatial tools, data pipelines and compute infrastructure.
You will work closely with Research Program Support teams (plus the external partners mentioned above). You will lead cross-functional and external experts and will have the authority to prioritize, redirect, and pivot or pause activities within the approved mission charter, budget and governance framework.

As part of your role, you will:

• On behalf of the GeoLab leadership team, define and implement ETH Swiss GeoLab’s geospatial AI and technical strategy
• Based on broad inputs, establish the target architecture for multimodal foundation models, agentic systems, geospatial data pipelines, compute environments and the shared Geo-Intelligence Platform
• Adopt or set technical standards, priorities, interfaces and development principles aligned with GeoLab strategy and mission requirements
• Drive and lead the design, development, evaluation and operationalisation of multimodal geospatial foundation models and related agentic capabilities
• Encourage, enable or direct prototyping, benchmarking, validation and integration activities
• Ensure that technical work produces reliable, reusable and operationally relevant capabilities rather than isolated research demonstrators
• Own and be empowered to adapt the technical roadmap and delivery of the shared Geo-Intelligence Platform, including data access, processing pipelines, model-training environments, deployment capabilities and integration with HPC and cloud infrastructure
• Coordinate with CSCS, ETH units, innovation leaders and technology providers to ensure scalability, security, efficiency and maintainability
• Work with the Natural Hazards, Agriculture, Forestry and future Mission Leads to translate mission requirements into technical capabilities and delivery plans
• Assess feasibility, define technical milestones, allocate technical resources and resolve trade-offs between mission-specific development and reusable platform components
• Redirect technical work when evidence, performance or mission priorities require it
• Lead or support technical collaborations with ETH groups, research institutions, CSCS, hyperscalers, companies, start-ups and open-source communities
• Structure joint development activities, evaluate external capabilities and mobilise partners where they can accelerate delivery or provide distinctive expertise

Profile

In summary, you have a track record of innovative thought-leadership and a track record in brining others along with you on a journey for which the goal may not be 100% clear at the beginning. You are a voracious learner and are able to translate ambitious scientific and operational needs into robust, scalable and reusable technical solutions.

Specifically, we are looking for someone with:

• A Master’s or PhD degree in computer science, machine learning, geo-informatics, engineering, remote sensing or a related field
• Several years of experience leading technical AI/ML, geospatial data or large-scale software and platform development activities that includes interactions with user communities
• Demonstrated experience defining technical architectures, guiding interdisciplinary teams and managing technical resources such as platform architectures and large-scale data processing and ML workflows
• Strong expertise in machine learning and multimodal foundation models with a track record of learning and adaptability as the industry and technological tools change. This also involves experience with agentic AI, reasoning systems or related AI architectures.
• Excellent understanding of geospatial AI, Earth observation and remote sensing
• Experience with HPC, cloud infrastructure or distributed computing environments
• Proven ability to build reliable, reusable and operational technical capabilities in a cost-effective and agile manner
• Experience working with academic, infrastructure, technology or industry partners
• Excellent written and spoken English; German or French is an asset

You bring strong technical judgement and the ability to set direction under uncertainty. You have an excitement for technology and a passion to use this technology to enable breakthrough research and to change lives through the results it produces. You are a fast learner and a strong listener who also has the courage to try things and pivot where expectations are not fulfilled. You are able to lead highly qualified specialists, resolve architectural trade-offs and translate mission needs into scalable technical solutions. You are structured, delivery-oriented and willing to challenge or redirect weak approaches where needed. You communicate effectively across scientific, engineering, management and industry environments and build trust while maintaining clear standards, accountability and focus on outcomes.

Workplace

A workplace in Root/Lucerne, embedded in an active innovation ecosystem and closely connected to ETH Zurich

We offer

• The great and rare opportunity to help build ETH Swiss GeoLab from its early phase and shape a new national competence centre for Earth observation
• A senior technical leadership role with high visibility and strategic relevance
• The opportunity to develop geospatial AI capabilities with direct application to societal, environmental and economic challenges
• The opportunity to build novel and useful AI, data and platform capabilities for multiple mission areas