The Spine Biomechanics Lab at Balgrist University Hospital is a translational research environment at the interface of engineering, software development, and spine surgery. We combine clinical insight, image-based analysis, computational modelling, and biomechanical evidence to develop solutions that can directly support surgical decision-making and improve patient care.

With SpinePlanner, we are advancing patient-specific software for spinal fusion surgery in close collaboration with an associated MedTech spin-off. The platform combines medical imaging, planning workflows, biomechanical assessment and optimization to support surgeons from preoperative planning to surgical execution.

We are now looking for an experienced software engineer with a strong background in regulated MedTech software development to help develop SpinePlanner from a clinically driven technology platform into a robust, validated, and scalable medical device software product.

Senior Software Engineer – Software as a Medical Device (w/m/d) 80–100 %
Research

Your tasks

• Drive the software development of SpinePlanner toward a robust, clinically usable, and product-ready solution.
• Translate clinical, regulatory, and technical requirements into reliable software architecture, implementation plans, and development workflows.
• Develop, maintain, and improve core software components for patient-specific planning, image-based workflows, data handling, visualization, and computational analysis.
• Establish and apply professional software engineering practices across the development lifecycle, including maintainable architecture, testing, documentation, release management, and code quality.
• Contribute to verification and validation activities in line with regulated MedTech software development standards.
• Work closely with surgeons, researchers, engineers, and external partners to define clinically meaningful use cases and translate them into practical software solutions.
• Support the integration of SpinePlanner into clinical workflows that connect preoperative planning with surgical execution, including interfaces to medical imaging data, surgical guidance systems, robotic platforms, and clinical IT environments.
• Contribute to technical and product documentation as well as project reporting.
• Help shape a development culture that bridges academic innovation, clinical relevance, regulatory expectations and professional software product development.

Your profile

• MSc or PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Medical Informatics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of professional software engineering experience, including substantial responsibility for the design, implementation, testing, documentation and maintenance of complex software systems.
• At least 3 years of hands-on experience in regulated MedTech software development, ideally including software as a medical device.
• Strong software engineering and architecture skills.
• Practical experience with regulated software development processes, including requirements management, risk management, traceability, verification and validation, and technical and release documentation.
• Familiarity with relevant MedTech standards and quality frameworks, ideally including IEC 62304, ISO 13485, ISO 14971, IEC 62366, or comparable regulatory expectations.
• Ability to translate clinical needs, user feedback, technical constraints, and regulatory requirements into practical, reliable, and well-structured software solutions.
• Independent, structured, and proactive working style, with the ability to take ownership of technical decisions.
• Clear and confident communication with clinicians, engineers, researchers, quality experts, and external project partners.
• Additional experience in medical imaging workflows, DICOM, image segmentation, 3D visualization, computational modelling, cloud and/or on-premises deployment, cybersecurity, data privacy, or clinical IT integration would be a strong advantage.
• Experience in orthopaedics, spine surgery, surgical planning, implant-related software, patient-specific modelling, digital surgery, or product development in a start-up-like environment would be particularly valuable.

Our offer

• A dynamic, interdisciplinary environment embedded in a leading orthopaedic university hospital.
• Direct collaboration with spine surgeons, biomechanical researchers, software engineers, and technical partners working on patient-specific planning for spine surgery.
• The opportunity to take a central role in the development of a clinically grounded MedTech software product for planning and execution in spinal fusion surgery.
• A position with substantial technical ownership, room for initiative, and direct influence on software architecture, development processes, and product maturity.
• A translational setting that combines the scientific depth of a university hospital with the pace, focus, and product orientation of an emerging technology venture.
• Competitive compensation and attractive employment conditions.
• Employment percentage: 80–100 %, start date by arrangement.

Next steps

We look forward to your complete online application, including CV, cover letter, transcripts, references, and optional project portfolio, GitHub repositories, software documentation examples, or selected technical publications.

For further information, please contact Dr. Jonas Widmer (jonas.widmer@balgrist.ch).

Join Us. Build the Future of Spine Surgery Software.

Please note that we are happy to process applications received by post but cannot return them for administrative reasons.