Senior Soil Remediation Engineer - 100%

Lead the Development of Microbial Solutions for Environmental Remediation

Join an innovative ETH spin-off dedicated to developing microbial solutions that degrade persistent environmental pollutants, including PFAS and pesticides. Our mission is to transition the world's first commercial bacterial solution for PFAS remediation from laboratory research into real-world industrial application. In this role, you will lead the development and field application of these microbial solutions for the remediation of PFAS in contaminated soils, designing and executing projects from lab pilots to field-scale trials and full decontamination of sites.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of lab and field-scale soil remediation projects, testing and optimizing bacterial solutions on contaminated soil matrices in the lab and on site, including industrial sites, landfill soils, and agricultural land.
• Develop experimental and remediation strategies adapted to variable and complex soil matrices, translating client and site requirements into experimental designs, remediation strategies, and technical deliverables.
• Assemble and adapt microbial consortia for the biodegradation of PFAS in soil.
• Apply targeted molecular and sequencing approaches, such as 16S rRNA, qPCR, and WGS, to characterize soil microbial communities and track key degraders.
• Set up, operate, and optimize ex-situ and in-situ bioremediation systems, including biopiles and in situ bioremediation slurry-phase bioreactors.
• Monitor and control key process parameters, including moisture, pH, oxygen, temperature, nutrient availability, and contaminant levels.
• Plan and interpret analytics, such as LC-MS/MS, in collaboration with the analytics unit to track degradation performance.
• Support permitting, reporting, and regulatory interactions related to contaminated site remediation.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams in R&D and analytics, as well as external partners, to advance and scale solutions.

Your Profile

Required Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Environmental Sciences, Soil Science, Microbiology, Bio-chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Several years (5+) of industry experience in the remediation of xenobiotics in soil.
• Strong, hands-on industry track record in soil bioremediation, ideally including project management of full-scale remediation projects.
• Proven experience in the biodegradation or biotransformation of xenobiotics, such as PFAS, pesticides, chlorinated solvents, and petroleum hydrocarbons, in soil.
• Practical experience with ex-situ and/or in-situ remediation technologies.
• Experience in microbial cultivation, both aerobic and/or anaerobic.
• Experience with project and people management.
• Structured, reliable, and detail-oriented working style, comfortable working independently on-site and in the lab.
• English proficiency at C1 level or higher.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with environmental regulations and permitting processes for contaminated sites, with a Swiss/EU context being a plus.
• Proficiency in German and/or French for interacting with clients and site stakeholders.

What We Offer

• A cutting-edge scientific environment at the intersection of microbiology, soil science, and environmental biotechnology.
• A leading role in scaling up microbial soil remediation from pilot to commercial deployment.
• Opportunities for training and career development in microbial bioremediation.
• Competitive salary and a stock option package.
• A collaborative startup culture characterized by fast decision-making, a high level of responsibility, and the opportunity to have a significant impact in developing the world's first commercial bacterial solutions for PFAS bioremediation.