Product Owner – B2B Digital Ecosystem Platform at ETH Space

Strategic Product Leadership for European Space Ecosystem

Join the Entrepreneurship unit of ETH Zurich | Space to spearhead the creation of a highly secure, closed B2B digital platform in collaboration with ESA and the ESA Commercialization network. This initiative aims to boost the European space startup and industry ecosystem by facilitating cross-border connections, commercial deals, and collaboration to accelerate company development.

The platform is designed to connect international institutional stakeholders, space and related industry partners, startup founders from ESA Business Incubation Centers, and other key players. It will integrate data-driven insights and advanced matching capabilities, including AI-driven features.

Role Overview

Take this initiative from its initial concept phase through finalized specification, vendor selection, and full-scale implementation. In this role, you will serve as the strategic bridge between a diverse network of high-profile international stakeholders, agile entrepreneurs, and software engineers. You will lead the requirements engineering process, translate ecosystem needs into clear technical specifications, select the right development partner, and take ultimate ownership of the project's timely delivery. Rapid prototyping, beta testing, and continuous learning are central to the development process.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead stakeholder scoping workshops: plan and facilitate targeted requirement workshops with diverse user groups, ranging from institutional managers and corporate partners to startup founders, to align expectations and unify the product vision.
• Finalize product specifications: evolve the current draft concept into a comprehensive, production-ready product specification package and structured backlog.
• Vendor and partner management: lead the technical evaluation and onboarding process for the external software development partner.
• Roadmap ownership: manage the overarching project timeline, ensuring key milestones are met for a timely, high-quality deployment.
• Oversee development and quality: supervise the external implementation partner throughout the development, testing, and deployment cycles, ensuring rigorous adherence to timelines and scope.
• Ensure technical and security excellence: define and enforce robust platform governance, including strict role-based access management, secure third-party data integrations, high-standard data residency compliance, and system scalability.
• Stakeholder management: act as the principal point of contact for diverse stakeholders, integrating their different perspectives to ensure the project stays on track and delivers promised results.

Qualifications and Skills

Education and Experience

• A university degree in computer science or a related field is expected; other degrees are considered with significant, relevant work experience.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience with a proven track record as a Product Owner or Product Manager leading the delivery of complex web-based B2B portals, collaboration networks, or enterprise-grade software applications.

Technical Proficiency

• Strong technical literacy with a sound understanding of modern web application frameworks, API/webhook architecture, role-based access control, and modern AI/LLM deployment frameworks.
• Experience defining requirements for smart matching engines, data-processing pipelines, or AI-driven user feeds is highly advantageous.

Competencies and Personality

• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills with a demonstrated ability to navigate and build consensus within academic, inter-governmental, corporate, and startup environments.
• Practical experience in coordinating external software development vendors, supervising agile sprints, and overseeing quality assurance and testing phases.
• An independent approach with strong organizational skills, a proactive and reliable personality, and a solution-oriented, service-oriented working style.
• Enjoyment of working with complex project structures, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to build bridges across teams and cultures.
• Full professional fluency in English (written and spoken) is required; German is a plus.

What We Offer

• A high-impact management role at a world-class institution, directly driving innovation within the rapidly expanding space technology ecosystem.
• A vibrant, intellectually stimulating work environment at ETH Zurich | Space based in downtown Zurich.
• The opportunity to shape a long-term digital, cross-European infrastructure project from its foundational stages.
• A fixed-term contract for 3 years, possibly with an option to extend.