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Zurich, Switzerland's largest city with around 430,000 inhabitants (an agglomeration of over 1.3 million), is Switzerland's economic and scientific center. As a global financial hub, technology hub and university city, Zurich combines economic excellence with alpine flair and Swiss quality of life. The city on Lake Zurich impresses with its unique location between lake and mountains, its cosmopolitan atmosphere and an exceptionally high quality of life. Zurich as a place of work stands out with ETH Zurich as one of the world's best technical universities (7th place worldwide), the University of Zurich, the ZHAW and other universities, as well as an economy that ranges from banks and insurance companies to technology companies and life sciences. Living in Zurich means Swiss quality, an international atmosphere, direct democratic participation and a city where the highest salaries meet alpine quality of life. For professionals who want to combine a career in Zurich with Swiss precision and cosmopolitanism, the Limmat city is a first-class, albeit expensive, choice.
The Zurich job market offers outstanding prospects for specialists in the environmental, planning and geodata sectors. As a growing metropolis, the city of Zurich is working on ambitious projects ranging from sustainable urban development to densification and climate-friendly transformation. The Canton of Zurich is pursuing ambitious climate goals and is focusing on sustainable mobility, expanding excellent public transport and developing green and blue infrastructure.
GIS Jobs Zurich benefit from the ultra-modern geodata infrastructure: The Office for Spatial Development of the Canton of Zurich with the Department of Geoinformation operates the GIS-ZH (Geographic Information System) as one of the most comprehensive geodata treasures in Switzerland. The GIS browser visualizes geodata in maps and makes this data available — largely free of charge as open government data. The geo.zh.ch geoportal offers over 500 geodata products, web map services (WMS), web feature services (WFS) and is a pioneer in open geodata. Zurich's environmental planners find a wide range of tasks in a city and canton that combine economic growth with the highest environmental standards.
Geodata jobs in Zurich are created not only in administration, but also at numerous private GIS companies such as Esri Switzerland, Sistema GmbH, ingesa AG and specialized engineering firms. Surveyors in Zurich are in high demand for projects in the booming city and for digitizing geospatial data at the highest level. Umwelttechnik Zürich benefits from the city's role as a cleantech hub and pioneer in sustainability and a 2000-watt society.
Vacancies in Zurich spatial planning include positions at the city and canton, at renowned planning offices such as PLANAR AG and at universities. Geoinformatics Zurich is in an excellent position: ETH Zurich offers cutting-edge research and teaching with the Institute of Cartography and Geoinformation and the Institute for Spatial and Landscape Development (IRL). With its Department of Geography — the largest geographical institute in Switzerland — the University of Zurich (UZH) is a leader in geography, remote sensing and GIS. The ZHAW supplements with applied research in life sciences and the environment. The unique combination of two world-class universities, highest salaries, international companies and alpine quality of life makes Zurich one of the most attractive locations worldwide for environmental and planning professionals.
Working in Zurich means living in one of the most livable cities in the world — but at the highest cost of living. Zurich regularly occupies top positions in global quality of life rankings. Living costs are among the highest in the world, but are offset by Swiss salaries, which are among the highest in the world. Living in Zurich is extremely expensive: From central districts such as District 1 (Old Town), District 4 (nightlife district) and District 5 (Zurich-West) to residential areas on Lake Zurich such as Riesbach and Enge to suburbs such as Oerlikon and Altstetten, the city offers diverse but expensive housing options. Many professionals commute from the canton of Zurich or neighboring cantons.
The transport connections are first-class: Zurich has one of the best public transport systems in the world with S-Bahn, tram, bus and Lake Zurich ships. Punctuality is proverbial. Zurich Airport is an international hub with worldwide connections. The location in Switzerland enables fast connections to all major European cities. Zurich's work-life balance benefits enormously from the location: Lake Zurich with swimming pools (public pools), the nearby mountains (Uetliberg right outside the door, Alps within easy reach), numerous parks and the Limmat offer top-level relaxation. In winter, ski areas can be reached in less than an hour.
Zurich is world-class culturally: Zurich Opera House, Schauspielhaus, Tonhalle, Kunsthaus Zürich, numerous museums, the lively club scene and events such as the Street Parade or the Züri Fäscht characterize the city. Zurich's old town, Niederdorf, Zurich-West as a creative district and the international gastronomic scene make Zurich a cultural metropolis. For families, Zurich offers excellent schools, international educational institutions and a family-friendly environment of Swiss quality. The whole of Switzerland is on your doorstep — from the Alps to Italian and French Switzerland to German neighbors.
Zurich's job opportunities for environmental, planning and geospatial professionals are among the best in the world. ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading technical universities (7th place in the 2026 QS ranking) and offers excellent research and teaching with the Institute of Cartography and Geoinformation, the Institute for Spatial and Landscape Development (IRL) and the Department of Earth Sciences. ETH is researching geodesy, GIS, remote sensing, spatial planning, spatial development, sustainability and environmental systems science. The MAS in Spatial Development (ETH RAUM) trains managers for spatial planning.
The University of Zurich (UZH) is the largest university in Switzerland and, with its Department of Geography — the largest in Switzerland — offers first-class research and teaching in geography, remote sensing, GIS, hydrology, glaciology and environmental sciences. The approximately 620 geography students benefit from an enormous variety of topics. The focus is on climate research, urban geography, remote sensing and geoinformatics. The close cooperation between UZH and ETH gives students access to both universities.
The ZHAW (Zurich University of Applied Sciences) supplements the offering with practice-oriented research and teaching in life sciences, facility management, environmental and applied sciences. This world-class university density creates a unique environment for a career in environmental engineering in Zurich and provides access to cutting-edge research, international networks and innovative projects.
Vacancies in Spatial Planning Zurich will continue to increase as Zurich continues to grow and pursues ambitious goals in climate protection, sustainable mobility and urban development. The Swiss trade associations, the close network between universities, administration and industry, and the Zurich Innovation Park offer excellent networking opportunities. For qualified professionals, Zurich is therefore not only the most attractive city in Switzerland, but also a location with the highest scientific excellence, international reach and unique career opportunities — but at Swiss prices.
Zurich offers the most diverse and attractive employer landscape for environmental, planning and geodata professionals in Switzerland. The city on the Limmat combines city and cantonal administration, federal authorities, international organizations, leading companies Zurich, ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich, the ZHAW and specialized planning offices to form a unique career ecosystem. The exceptional concentration of employer Zurich in the areas of cutting-edge research, geodesy and sustainability as well as the strong demand for environmental jobs in Zurich and GIS companies in Zurich make the Swiss metropolis a top location for specialists in these industries.
City of Zurich — Department of Urban Development
The Office of Urban Development is responsible for strategic urban planning, district planning and urban development in Zurich. The challenges include densification, housing, sustainable urban development and the integration of green and blue infrastructure into a growing metropolis. City planners, spatial planners, architects and urban developers are working on top-class projects in one of the most livable cities in the world. The Zurich City Council Jobs offers career opportunities of Swiss quality with international appeal.
Canton of Zurich — Office of Spatial Development/Department of Geoinformation
The Geoinformation Department of the Office of Spatial Development operates the GIS-ZH (Geographic Information System of the Canton of Zurich) as one of the most comprehensive geodata resources in Switzerland. The GIS-ZH collects data on buildings, air and climate, flora and fauna, land and land use, protected areas, spatial planning and numerous other topics. In the GIS browser, this geodata is visualized in maps. The population can obtain this data — largely free of charge as open government data.
The geo.zh.ch geoportal offers over 500 geodata products, WMS/WFS services and is a pioneer in open geodata in Switzerland. Surveyors, geodesists, geoinformatics specialists, GIS developers and cartographers work here on innovative geodata infrastructure at the highest level. The Zurich Surveying Office (cantonal level) offers secure career opportunities with pioneering projects and Swiss salaries.
Canton of Zurich — Office for Waste, Water, Energy and Air (AWEL)
AWEL is the cantonal environmental agency and is responsible for environmental protection, water protection, air pollution, energy issues, waste management and natural hazards. The authority is working on implementing cantonal environmental and climate goals. Environmental engineers, biologists, hydrologists, climate protection managers, energy experts and environmental planners work on a wide range of tasks at cantonal level. AWEL is shaping the sustainable transformation of Switzerland's largest canton.
Federal Office for Regional Topography swisstopo
swisstopo is Switzerland's geoinformation center and part of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (VBS) with headquarters in Wabern near Bern, but a strong presence and recruitment also in Zurich. swisstopo collects geodata about Switzerland, creates national maps, carries out the state survey and coordinates the national spatial data infrastructure. Geodesists, surveyors, geoinformatics specialists, cartographers and GIS specialists are working to provide basic geodata for all of Switzerland at the highest level.
Esri Switzerland AG
Esri Switzerland is the leading provider of GIS software and geodata solutions in Switzerland with headquarters in Nyon and a strong presence in Zurich. The company is part of the global Esri network and provides ArcGIS solutions for municipalities, cantons, companies, and federal agencies. GIS developers, geoinformatics specialists, software engineers and GIS consultants work on innovative location intelligence solutions of Swiss quality. As a leading GIS company in Zurich, Esri Switzerland offers international career opportunities with Swiss salaries.
Sistema GmbH
Sistema is an innovative company also based in Zurich, specializing in the analysis of geospatial data on the atmosphere, biomass and climate. The company uses environmental data to support decision-making processes and develops tools for accessing, processing and interpreting large amounts of environmental data. Environmental scientists, geoinformatics specialists, climate researchers and data analysts are working on innovative solutions.
ingesa
ingesa AG is active in the fields of geomatics, civil engineering, community engineering and planning and was created from the merger of traditional engineering firms in the Canton of Zurich. The company operates modern WebGIS solutions for over 50 municipalities and institutions in the canton of Zurich. Surveyors, geoinformatics specialists, construction engineers and planners work on a wide range of municipal projects.
PLANAR AG for Spatial Development
PLANAR is the point of contact for all questions about spatial planning in Switzerland based in Zurich. The interdisciplinary team supervises local and regional planning, architecture and urban planning, landscape and open space, as well as the environment, energy and transport. Spatial planners, urban planners, landscape architects, traffic planners and energy planners are working on integrated solutions for Swiss municipalities, cantons and private clients. PLANAR is one of the most renowned planning offices in Switzerland.
Planicum GmbH
planicum designs future-oriented living spaces and infrastructures for urban and rural areas in Switzerland. The office combines landscape architecture and environmental planning through the holistic Platine-Principle® and works with BIM, sponge city concepts and biodiversity promotion. Landscape architects, landscape planners, environmental planners and BIM coordinators work on innovative projects in Zurich and Switzerland.
Stadtwerke/ewz (Elektrizitätswerk der Stadt Zürich)
ewz is the energy provider for the city of Zurich and one of the largest Swiss electricity suppliers. The company invests heavily in renewable energy, hydropower, solar energy and sustainable energy supply. Energy engineers, environmental engineers, sustainability experts and project managers are working on the climate-neutral energy supply of the future. ewz offers attractive jobs with Swiss salaries and social relevance.
ETH Zurich — Institute of Cartography and Geoinformation
The Institute of Cartography and Geoinformation at ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading institutes for cartography, geoinformatics, GIS and geodata visualization. The research includes interactive cartography, 3D geovisualization, location-based services, and spatial data science. Geoinformaticians, cartographers, computer scientists and GIS specialists work on cutting-edge research with global relevance. ETH Zurich offers world-class scientific jobs with cutting-edge equipment and international networks.
ETH Zurich — Institute for Spatial and Landscape Development (IRL)
IRL researches spatial development, spatial planning, urban planning, landscape architecture and sustainable development. The focus is on urban transformation, climate adaptation, sustainable mobility and spatial justice. Spatial planners, urban planners, landscape architects and urban researchers work on interdisciplinary research projects. The ETH RAUM program (MAS in Spatial Development) trains managers for spatial planning.
University of Zurich (UZH) — Department of Geography
The Department of Geography at UZH is the largest geographical department in Switzerland and is part of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Around 620 students benefit from an enormous variety of topics in physical geography, human geography, remote sensing and geographic information science. The Department of Hydrology and Climate (H2K) researches catchment hydrology and climate change. The departments of Glaciology, Geomorphodynamics and Remote Sensing complement the offering.
Geographers, climate researchers, hydrologists, glaciologists, geoinformatics specialists and remote sensing experts are working on cutting-edge research on climate change, water cycle, glacier shrinkage and environmental change. UZH cooperates closely with ETH Zurich. The University of Zurich Geography is internationally renowned and offers scientific positions with access to cutting-edge laboratories, field research and alpine research sites.
ZHAW — Zurich University of Applied Sciences
The ZHAW is one of the largest Swiss universities of applied sciences. For the environmental and planning sector, the Department of Life Sciences and Facility Management and the Department of Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering are particularly relevant. The ZHAW conducts application-oriented research on the environment, sustainability, biodiversity, resource management and sustainable construction. The ZHAW offers career opportunities in applied research with practical relevance.
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