Research Associate / Creative Research Engineer 60%, (f/m/d)
Zürcher Hochschule der Künste
Zürich
Key information
- Publication date:13 January 2026
- Workload:60%
- Contract type:Permanent position
- Place of work:Zürich
With around 2100 Bachelor's and Master's students, the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) is one of the largest and most diverse art academies in Europe. The fields of study and research include art education, design, film, fine arts, music, dance, theatre and transdisciplinarity. In the centre of Zurich, the ZHdK is a dynamic place where passionate people from over 75 countries work, study, teach, research and further their education. The university has numerous exhibition and performance venues where students' projects are shown to the public.
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The Immersive Arts Space (IAS) at ZHdK is an art and technology platform active in the fields of research, teaching and production. The IAS combines art, design and technology through practical experiments and the development of technically and artistically sophisticated projects.
As of 1 April 2026, or by agreement, we are looking for a temporary employee for a two-year period:
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The Immersive Arts Space (IAS) at ZHdK is an art and technology platform active in the fields of research, teaching and production. The IAS combines art, design and technology through practical experiments and the development of technically and artistically sophisticated projects.
As of 1 April 2026, or by agreement, we are looking for a temporary employee for a two-year period:
Research Associate / Creative Research Engineer 60%, (f/m/d)
Your responsibilities
You will primarily work on projects and collaborations within the Immersive Arts Space and have the opportunity to pursue independent initiatives that align with the thematic focus of the IAS.
You will primarily work on projects and collaborations within the Immersive Arts Space and have the opportunity to pursue independent initiatives that align with the thematic focus of the IAS.
- Develop and realize interactive installations, exhibitions, performances, and research systems
- Design and implement real-time, data-driven, and embodied interactive systems
- Build reusable software tools and infrastructure for long-term use
- Contribute to a technical backbone across interdisciplinary IAS projects
- Mentor and co-create with students and researchers in interdisciplinary projects
- Contribute to publications, conferences, and public presentations
- Teach within Minor “Immersive Arts – advanced”
Your profile
We are looking for a Research Associate with a strong technical background and a genuine interest in artistic and creative contexts. This role sits between engineering, artistic production, and applied research, with a focus on building reliable, high-quality interactive systems. Advanced written and spoken language skills in German and English are required.
We are looking for a Research Associate with a strong technical background and a genuine interest in artistic and creative contexts. This role sits between engineering, artistic production, and applied research, with a focus on building reliable, high-quality interactive systems. Advanced written and spoken language skills in German and English are required.
- Master’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Engineering, Creative Computing, HCI, Computing in the Arts, or related fields
- Experience with interactive or creative systems such as installations, exhibitions, performances, or experimental research
- Hands-on experience bringing prototypes into production-ready systems
- Experience in writing research proposals is an advantage
Technical experience may include
- Real-time interactive systems and data pipelines
- Machine learning, computer vision, and / or LLM-based workflows
- Physical computing and embedded systems (e.g. Arduino, ESP32, sensors, actuators)
- Distributed or long-running installations (e.g. OSC, WebSockets, WebRTC, OpenTelemetry)
- Programming in Python, C++, C#, Java, or JavaScript
- Creative tools such as MaxMSP, OpenFrameworks, TouchDesigner, Unity, Unreal, or similar
What you can expect from us
We offer an interesting and challenging role in a lively and collegial environment in Zurich's Toni-Areal. We live an inclusive culture and value diversity. Our benefits are varied and self-evident.
Your contacts for further information
Christopher Salter, Head of Immersive Arts Space, (E-Mail schreiben).
Contact Person HRM: Mirjam Schütz, HR-Business Partner (E-Mail schreiben)
Further information about Zurich University of the Arts can be found at www.zhdk.ch . We are happy to receive your complete application documents by 15 February 2026 via the “Apply online now” link at the end of this advertisement. Please note that we will only consider online applications for this position. The first interview will be held on 9 March and the second on 19 March 2026.
We offer an interesting and challenging role in a lively and collegial environment in Zurich's Toni-Areal. We live an inclusive culture and value diversity. Our benefits are varied and self-evident.
Your contacts for further information
Christopher Salter, Head of Immersive Arts Space, (E-Mail schreiben).
Contact Person HRM: Mirjam Schütz, HR-Business Partner (E-Mail schreiben)
Further information about Zurich University of the Arts can be found at www.zhdk.ch . We are happy to receive your complete application documents by 15 February 2026 via the “Apply online now” link at the end of this advertisement. Please note that we will only consider online applications for this position. The first interview will be held on 9 March and the second on 19 March 2026.
