Software Engineer in Medical Simulation 80 - 100 %

School:

School of Engineering

Starting date:

Starting immediately or by agreement (1 year contract)

Your role

The Visual Intelligence and Applications Group at ZHAW, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world application. We are looking for a skilled Software Engineer (Backend) to join the high-impact medical project PROFICIENCY, which is revolutionizing how surgical simulations are generated and experienced. PROFICIENCY is dedicated to advancing the digital transformation of education and training through innovative immersive technologies. Project partners include the University Hospital Balgrist at the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, and well-known software companies-creating a highly attractive research and development environment.

As a backend engineer, you will be the backbone of a sophisticated simulation platform, managing the infrastructure that powers next-generation 3D reconstruction and AI-driven annotation for surgeon training. You will take ownership of the server-side architecture and data pipelines that drive our game-based medical simulations. Rather than merely writing code, you will design the systems that bring complex 3D data to life.

Your tasks will include:

• Backend Infrastructure & Architecture: Design, deploy, and maintain robust server environments capable of uploading, processing, and serving large-scale datasets. Ensure the simulation platform is secure, scalable, and reliably available.
• Data Management & Integration: Develop comprehensive database solutions for user management and data storage. Lead the integration of backend systems with existing client-side game applications.
• 3D AI Pipeline Development: Build server-side workflows for 3D scene generation using state-of-the-art methods and AI models.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Serve as the technical bridge between medical experts, and front-end developers, translating research prototypes into stable, production-ready applications.

• https://www.zhaw.ch/en/engineering/institutes-centres/idp/visual-intelligence-and-applications
  
• https://xr.engineering.zhaw.ch/
• https://panteroni.github.io/3dsurgerytraining /

Your profile

We are looking for someone who enjoys tackling challenges at the intersection of software engineering, artificial intelligence, and the medical world.

• Education: Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• Technical Expertise: Strong background in backend development, API design, and database management. Experience with cloud infrastructure or on-premise GPU cluster management is highly desirable.
• Game Engine Knowledge: Familiarity with Unity and understanding of how backends interact with game engines is a distinct plus.
• AI & 3D Interest: Familiarity with deploying AI models in production environments. Experience with or strong interest in 3D reconstruction technologies is an advantage.
• Language: You are fluent in German or English.

This is what we stand for

Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW is one of Switzerland's largest multidisciplinary universities of applied sciences, with over 14'000 students and 3'400 faculty and staff.

ZHAW is committed to gender-mixed and diverse teams in order to promote equality, diversity and innovation.

Our institute is distinguished by its committed team, a pleasant working atmosphere, and an exciting and innovative specialization area. We perform cutting-edge fundamental and applied research in a young team of motivated scientists. Your workplace is located in the centre of the city of Winterthur, and - as part of a team of about 12 colleagues - will offer you a diverse and lively work environment.

Successful candidates will get the opportunity to participate in an exceptional and large innovation project, PROFICENCY, which is developing cutting-edge technologies for education and training in medicine. Public visibility will enhance the candidates' professional profiles and track records.

We offer:

• Meaningful Work: Your contributions will directly support the improvement of surgical training and, ultimately, patient outcomes.
• Academic & Industry Network: Work in a dynamic university environment with strong connections to industry leaders and medical institutions.
• Flexibility: Modern working conditions with flexible hours and the possibility to work from home.

What you can expect

We offer working conditions and terms of employment commensurate with higher education institutions and actively promote personal development for staff in leadership and non-leadership positions. A detailed description of advantages and benefits can be found at Working at the ZHAW . The main points are listed below:

Contact

Prof. Dr. Helmut Grabner
Head of Visual Intelligence and Applications Group

Irina Keiser
Recruiting Manager