Endowed Full Professorship of Data Science and Data Engineering (full-time, open rank)

Job Description

Endowed Full Professorship of Data Science and Data Engineering (full-time, open rank)

Zeppelin University (ZU) in Friedrichshafen at Lake Constance is a state-approved privately endowed university with BA, MA, and PhD programs in the fields of economics, politics and psychology. ZU is dedicated to multidisciplinarity, internationality and individuality in both research and teaching.

Zeppelin University is establishing a new Endowed Professorship in Data Science & Data Engineering, as part of its strategic repositioning. This professorship, funded by ZF Friedrichshafen AG, serves as a key strategic pillar to strengthen evidence-based, data-driven education across all disciplines and to advance ZU’s profile at the intersection of technology, society, and responsible leadership.

Candidate Profile

• Proven experience in Data Science and Data Engineering
• Academic background in computer science, mathematics, statistics, econometrics, or related fields
• Interdisciplinary research agenda covering topics such as:
  • Data Engineering (e.g., data pipelines, workflow orchestration, distributed data processing such as Spark, streaming systems)
  • Data Platforms: cloud-native architectures, data lakes, data warehouses
  • Data Management: data modelling, integration, governance, and metadata systems
  • Applied Data Science: statistical modeling, exploratory data analysis, and visualization
  • Reproducible Data Workflows: versioning, documentation, and research data management
• Experience in the successful acquisition of third-party funding (research grants)
• Experience in collaboration with industry would be an advantage

Responsibilities

• Provide university-wide teaching in foundational and advanced data-driven methods, including:
  • Data Science Foundations (data handling, exploratory analysis, statistics)
  • Programming for Data Analysis (e.g., Python/R data workflows)
  • Data Engineering & Pipelines (ETL, data integration, distributed systems)
  • Cloud Computing for Data Application
  • Data Visualization and Communication
  • Research Data Management and Reproducibility
• Supervise research, project, and thesis work across all study programs and the Graduate School
• Contribute to transfer activities with industry and societal partners
• Commitment to academic self-governance, internationalization, and strategic development of Zeppelin University
• Work in close collaboration with the other chairs endowed by ZF Friedrichshafen AG – the Chair of Artificial Intelligence and the Chair of Systems of Virtual Reality
• Build data foundations, provide data, infrastructure and pipelines, and data analytics

The position creates a clear link to the ZF Endowed Chair of AI, which focuses on intelligent data analysis and responsible AI design. Together, the endowed chairs enable integrated research, joint teaching formats, and practice-oriented transfer activities, forming a coherent interdisciplinary environment for innovation and scientific excellence.

By joining Zeppelin University, you will shape a new generation of leaders who combine analytical excellence, technological literacy, and societal responsibility. You will play a significant role in positioning the university for the digital age. You will teach courses characterized by small class sizes and close interaction with highly motivated students.

The Lake Constance region offers a wealth of recreational opportunities and is located between Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

To be eligible for the position, applicants must meet the requirements for appointment pursuant to § 47 of the Higher Education Act of the State of Baden-Württemberg. In particular, they must hold a doctoral degree in the relevant discipline and demonstrate a track record of significant independent research contributions to the field.

Zeppelin University is an equal opportunity employer. The university is committed to fostering a family-friendly work environment and promoting gender equality in academia. Applications from female scholars are especially encouraged. Applicants with disabilities who are equally qualified will be given preferential consideration.

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