Senior Project Manager & Senior R&D Engineer

Your mission

The Senior Project Manager & Senior R&D Engineer role supports Menhir Photonics' continued growth, industrialization, and execution of advanced laser technology projects. It is a senior hybrid position combining approximately 60% technical project and program management with approximately 40% hands-on R&D and laser engineering. The role combines deep expertise in laser physics, ultrafast lasers, optics, nonlinear optics, and related technologies with the ability to structure, coordinate, and drive complex technical development activities involving internal teams and external partners.

Your profile

Key Responsibilities Technical Project &  Program Management

• Plan, structure, coordinate, and execute strategic technical projects and programs, including internal development, customer projects, industrialization, collaborative research, public funding programs, and international development initiatives.
• Define work packages, milestones, deliverables, responsibilities, dependencies, decision points, and reporting mechanisms, translating high-level objectives into actionable engineering activities.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary work across R&D, laser and optical engineering, mechanical and electronics engineering, product development, industrialization, manufacturing, testing, operations, and quality-related functions.
• Monitor progress, follow up on actions, identify risks and bottlenecks early, escalate critical issues where needed, and support mitigation plans to maintain project momentum.
• Coordinate technical discussions, meetings, deliverables, reporting, and alignment with customers, industrial partners, suppliers, research institutions, funding organizations, and other collaborators.

Hands-On R&D & Laser Engineering

• Contribute directly to advanced laser systems, ultrafast laser technology, optical and nonlinear optical systems, and new laser concepts.
• Apply expertise in ultrafast laser physics, nonlinear optics and frequency conversion, resonator and optical system design, pulse propagation and characterization, laser stability and noise, and advanced optical components.Apply expertise in ultrafast laser physics, nonlinear optics and frequency conversion, resonator and optical system design, pulse propagation and characterization, laser stability and noise, and advanced optical components.
• Analyze complex technical problems, plan and conduct experiments, interpret data, identify root causes, and implement engineering improvements.
• Support product development and industrialization by improving robustness, reproducibility, manufacturability, and technical readiness.

Success criteria

• Success is reflected in clearly structured projects, well-defined deliverables, effective milestone monitoring, early risk identification, strong stakeholder alignment, meaningful technical contributions, and strengthened R&D and engineering capabilities.

Skills & Experience

• Senior technical leadership through expertise, structured coordination, mentoring, collaboration, and contribution to technical decision-making, without immediate formal line-management responsibility.
• Strong background in physics, laser physics, photonics, optics, electrical engineering, engineering physics, or related discipline.
• Substantial experience in laser development, ultrafast lasers, nonlinear optics, optical engineering, R&D engineering, technical project management, and complex technology development programs.

Languages

• Fluent English & proficient in German required

Terms of Employment

• Workload: 100%; maximum 5% travel
• Working arrangements: On-site
• Location: Headquarters in Stettbach near Zurich, Switzerland
• Preferred start date: ASAP

Contact

If you thrive in a fast‑moving environment, enjoy creating structure, and want to make a measurable impact, this is the opportunity for you.

Please submit your application by clicking the “Apply for this Job” button below.  Include your CV and a cover letter in English explaining why you are an excellent fit for this role. We look forward to receiving your application!

Applications submitted by headhunters or third parties will not be considered.

Why us?

You will be joining a fast-growing scale-up in our beautiful new office in Stettbach. Our international team values excellence, collaboration, and integrity. As we continue to grow rapidly, we are still building and refining our processes—your ideas and input will be valued as we establish best practices and streamline operations. We offer flexible working hours, a transportation subsidy, team events, a central location, modern, spacious offices with air conditioning, a cafeteria in the building, and opportunities for learning, development, and growth.

About us

Menhir Photonics is a dynamic Swiss laser manufacturer offering laser solutions of unprecedented robustness and reliability to customers around the globe. Based in Zurich, Switzerland, our team has strong expertise in the development and production of ultrafast lasers for the markets of aerospace, telecom, and metrology.