Scientific or Technical Staff Member Avalanche Protection 80-100% (m/f/d)
Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL
Davos
Key information
- Publication date:27 January 2026
- Workload:80 – 100%
- Place of work:Davos
Job summary
The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research is part of the ETH domain. This role offers a collaborative environment to enhance avalanche safety.
Tasks
- Conduct assessments on avalanche hazards and protection measures.
- Plan and execute applied research projects in avalanche safety.
- Provide training and collaborate with national and international groups.
Skills
- Master's degree in civil engineering or equivalent with experience.
- Expertise in risk management of natural hazards and design of protective structures.
- Proficiency in GIS, structural software, and programming.
Is this helpful?
The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF is part of the Federal Research Institute WSL and thus belongs to the ETH domain. WSL is concerned with the sustainable use and protection of the environment as well as responsible management of natural hazards. It employs around 600 staff, of which 180 work at the SLF in Davos.
Scientific or Technical Staff Member Avalanche Protection 80-100% (m/f/d)
The Avalanche and Prevention research unit investigates the formation and dynamics of avalanches. The goal is a deeper understanding of the triggering, flow behavior, and impact of avalanches in order to improve forecasting, avalanche protection, and avalanche risk management. The research unit is responsible for the national task of avalanche warning in Switzerland and is looking for a member for the Avalanche Protection Measures group (initially limited to 2 years)
Your tasks
- Expert and consulting activities regarding hazard assessment of avalanches, planning of protective measures, static assessment of protective systems and their building materials, conducting simulations as well as determining impacts caused by avalanches and snow on objects
- Planning and processing of applied research projects in the field of avalanche protection including writing project proposals, publications, and implementation of research results
- Training activities
- Participation in national and international expert groups
Your profile
- Master’s degree in civil engineering (MSc ETH Civil Engineering) or equivalent education, possibly with a dissertation
- Several years of professional experience in natural hazard risk management including dimensioning of protective structures (structural engineering, steel construction, geotechnics)
- Experience in collaboration between research and practice; preferably in the Swiss context (municipalities, cantons, federal offices, engineering offices)
- Knowledge of GIS, structural and simulation software as well as programming skills
- Practical experience in field investigations and conducting experiments is an advantage
- Terrain suitability in summer and winter
- Very good German and English skills; French or Italian is an advantage
Please send your complete application to Clemens Güdel, Human Resources WSL/SLF, by submitting the required documents via our application portal. Applications by e-mail or postal mail will not be considered. For questions, Stefan Margreth is available at Tel. +41 (0)81 417 02 54 & margreth@slf.ch, as well as Prof. Dr. Jürg Schweizer, Tel. +41 (0)81 417 01 64. At WSL, diversity and inclusion are lived values. We are committed to gender equality and to promoting an open and inclusive working environment.
