Legal Counsel / Contracts Specialist | Space

You will independently review, draft and negotiate complex national and international research and development contracts, in particular Research Collaboration Agreements, Consortium Agreements, Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and other research and cooperation agreements. You will manage projects with international space agencies, research institutions and industry partners, particularly within the context of the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and other international space and research partners. You will advise researchers and project managers on legal issues relating to international research collaborations, intellectual property, liability matters and other contractual risks. You will provide support on matters relating to export controls and dual-use goods, working closely with the relevant compliance units at ETH Zurich. You will provide proactive and solution-oriented advice to researchers and project managers throughout the entire project lifecycle – from project initiation to successful completion. You will further develop contract templates, guidelines and standard processes for the efficient and legally compliant management of space and research projects. You will work closely with ETH transfer, compliance units and other internal and external stakeholders. You will make a significant contribution to ensuring that international research collaborations are legally sound, whilst at the same time safeguarding the research community’s ability to act.

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities in the fields of science and engineering. Through its strategic initiative, ETH Zurich │ Space is systematically expanding its activities in space research and technology. A unique environment for innovation is being created through the recruitment of high-calibre researchers of international standing and the expansion of collaborations with leading partners from academia, space agencies and industry. Within the Vice-Presidency for Knowledge Transfer and Corporate Relations, the Research Contracts Group supports researchers in ensuring that their projects with national and international partners are built on a solid legal foundation.

• You hold a university degree in law (or equivalent legal qualification) combined with a strong understanding of technical contexts.

• You have at least 5 years’ relevant professional experience in international contract law or research management – ideally gained in an international organisation, a company in the tech/space sector, a space-related authority or at a university. Experience with contracts from space agencies (e.g. ESA) or space companies is a strong advantage.

• You have in-depth knowledge of Swiss and international contract law. Experience in intellectual property law, technology transfer or research law is an advantage.

• Knowledge of international space law, regulatory issues relating to the space sector, and the science policy context of international research collaborations would be an advantage.

• Experience in export control law (particularly ITAR/EAR), in dealing with dual-use goods or in comparable regulatory environments is particularly welcome. Knowledge of ESA or NASA-related regulatory frameworks is an additional advantage.

• You possess excellent analytical and conceptual skills, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to address legal risks in a pragmatic and solution-oriented manner.

• You communicate and negotiate fluently in German and English (both spoken and written). Business-level English is essential.

• You are characterised by a strong service orientation and a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach to your work. You are a talented communicator and are confident in your interactions with researchers, industry representatives and regulatory authorities.