ETH Zurich: Postdoc in Process & Energy Systems Modeling

The Geothermal Energy & Geofluids (GEG) Group in ETH Zurich's Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences is hiring a postdoc in physics-based modelling of engineered energy and fluid systems. The core task is co-developing an open-source power plant and wellbore flow simulator inside the group's TANGO techno-economic platform, linked to its RAFT reservoir simulator. The work is part of the Horizon Europe FlexGeo project. It suits a mechanical, process or energy engineer who can turn thermal-fluid problems into code.

What you'll do

• Formulate, implement and maintain numerical models and Python software for heat exchangers, turbines, pumps, compressors, separators, piping networks and wellbores
• Simulate and optimise integrated energy systems such as geothermal power plants, ORC and flash steam systems, thermal networks and CO2 compression and injection facilities
• Combine process models with economics to estimate LCOE, LCOH and LCOL, equipment costs, CAPEX/OPEX and NPV, with sensitivity analyses
• Develop coupled surface-subsurface models of fluid flow, heat transfer and pressure and temperature evolution
• Write clean, tested, documented code using Git, automated tests and linting, and work with the group's computing team

Who can apply

• A PhD in mechanical, process, chemical, energy, thermal or computational engineering, or a related engineering field
• Strong grounding in engineering thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer and energy conversion systems
• Proven ability to build physics-based numerical simulators of thermal-fluid or power plant systems from governing equations, preferably in Python, with version control and testing
• Desirable: industry experience in power plants or process plants, and tools such as TESPy, Aspen Plus, EES, Modelica, CoolProp or REFPROP
• Desirable: C++, Rust or Julia, FMI/FMU co-simulation, techno-economic modelling and knowledge of geothermal, ORC, CCS or lithium extraction

How to apply

Apply online through ETH's portal by Wednesday 28 October 2026. Send a cover letter on your thermal-fluid systems, numerical modelling and software experience (with a link to a code portfolio such as GitHub), a CV, degree transcripts, and contacts for 2-3 references. Only online applications are accepted.

Official page: jobs.ethz.ch/job/en/JOPG_ethz_yhKQx1C5swcV76m90d