The Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs 6,000 people supporting the three main missions of the institutions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of 16,000 people, including over 10,000 students and 3,500 researchers from 120 different countries.

Manager for the EPFL Space Center

Your mission :

The EPFL Space Center (eSpace) is starting a new research initiative on Sustainable Space Logistics.

We aim to address the next big challenges in space engineering, namely how to manufacture, transport, store, deliver and remove materials, goods, structures and humans in space. Numerous innovations in the space segment are still needed to revolutionize these space operations. As such, space logistics is a new field of its own and although many concepts can be inherited from current logistics practice, it requires the creation of a new set of competencies. Moreover, as space is a unique and fragile resource, it is key to develop this new ecosystem with a long-term and sustainable vision.



Your mission as Manager of the EPFL Space Center will be to lead this new research initiative on Sustainable Space Logistics and manage the Center’s operations.



Your team will be a mix of engineers, postdoctoral researchers and students.
Main duties and responsibilities include :

• Implement the Center’s strategy and define the technology roadmaps related to the research initiative;


• Lead the Center’s business development, by building partnerships with industries, EPFL’s and other external laboratories, to extract competencies and find synergies with industrial/space agencies’ needs;


• Promote within the Center the opportunities for consortium creation, proposal writing and leading of space technology projects


• Interface with the Initiative’s Research Council, and implement their recommendations


• Participate in student education and coaching


• Promote Space Research and its application to the public


• Manage the budget, human resources and other operational aspects of the Center


• Reporting to the Center’s Academic Director and other stakeholders.

Your profile :

Candidates should have a PhD in a domain of research related to sustainable space logistics (e.g. space robotics,

additive manufacturing, advanced control, space communication…). Experience in industry or within a space agency is also welcome.

You should consider yourself as a good candidate if you tick many of the points below:

• You are a team leader, and ready to face challenges


• You are enthusiastic about space technologies, and space projects


• You have a research background


• You like business and partnership development


• You have experience in proposal writing and have raised funding from various sources


• You have experience dealing with industrial customers, ESA and/or laboratories


• You have experience in product development


• You have a good knowledge of French, English and/or German.

We offer :

• A young, dynamic, interdisciplinary and international working environment


• A vibrant, internationally visible and rising academic institution in space research, education and technology transfer


• A privileged contact with state-of-the-art technological developments


• Access to many continuing education courses.

Start date :

As early as Feb. 1st, 2019
Term of employment :

Fixed-term (CDD)
Work rate :

100%
Duration :

1 year, renewableContact :

We look forward receiving your online application. Application will be evaluated as soon as received. The application will include a CV, a list of publications, a research statement, and contact details of three referees. Application will be closed when a candidate is selected or on January 31st 2019. For additional information, please contact Candice Norhadian candice.norhadian@epfl.ch

apply online