DIGITAL MAKER (senior artist/scientist (10 hours per week, permanent position starting October 1, 2026) - Design Investigations

The University of Applied Arts Vienna is seeking a part-time DIGITAL MAKER (senior artist/scientist (10 hours per week, permanent position starting October 1, 2026) for the Design Investigations department.

ABOUT DESIGN INVESTIGATIONS

Design Investigations is a five year diploma course in design at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna led by Univ. Prof. Anab Jain. In this unique educational program, we equip students to become designers of tomorrow. Our program builds on a rich history of industrial design, expanding the tool-kit of a designer to explore and materialize technological, social and ecological futures. As the world is changing, everything from data to politics, artificial intelligence to biology is part of the designer’s playing field.

‘Thinking through making’ is a paramount pillar of our teaching philosophy. Quick prototyping, constant physical tryouts, and material experimentation lie at the heart of what we do and what we teach. To support this, we run a digital model shop where students learn to work safely and independently with a wide range of materials and tools.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The University of Applied Arts Vienna seeks an enthusiastic and experienced digital maker to join the Design Investigations teaching team. You will guide students to build using a wide variety of materials and digital techniques, run our digital model shop, and help us shape how making is taught across the five years of the diploma. You will be a great team player and collaborate as you will be working closely with the teaching team, and colleagues across the University. 

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Integrated Teaching:

·          Teach core digital prototyping skills through workshops, lectures and hands-on sessions, working in coordination with the studio team and the semester theme.

·          Lectures should include theoretical components, but focus on practical teaching, incl. safety instructions

·          Supervise and teach in the digital modelshop (variety of tools: 3D-printers, laser cutters, CNC router, etc.)

·          Ensuring students become well versed and competent in all aspects of digital making

Organisation:

·          Organizing and maintaining the departments digital modelshop

·          Managing the provided budget in consultation with the teaching team, including the procurement of technical equipment

·          Assisting students with installing and dismantling works for presentations and exhibitions.

Practiced-based Research: 

·          Staying updated regarding materials, sustainability and ecological practices, as well as techniques and technologies related to digital prototyping.

·          Bringing this practice-based research into teaching and assisting students.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Practical and conceptual knowledge of digital technologies for analogue prototyping and modelbuilding.
• Portfolio of practice-based work, including realised projects.
• Master's degree or equivalent experience in creative technological disciplines.
• Knowledge and understanding of physical making methods. The physical prototyping workshop is supervised by another colleague, with whom close collaboration is both desirable and necessary.
• Teaching experience with presentation skills to lead practical and thematic sessions.
• Organizational skills for planning and executing simultaneous practical and theoretical teaching projects, including documentation and archiving.
• Fluency in English is required, with German skills as an advantage.
• Work location Vienna.
• A network within the wider making community is an asset.

·      We are aware that this is a very specific job requirement so we encourage anyone who feels they have experience in some of these areas to apply. 

The monthly minimum wage for the position is currently € 944.03 gross (14 times a year, based on 10 hours per week) and can be increased accordingly by taking into account job-specific previous experience in accordance with the collective agreement for universities (B1, salary scheme for academic/artistic university staff).

Qualified applicants should submit their written application with Full CV, statement of intent, and portfolio (related work, projects, publications) by 21. June 2026 via our online application platform at. Applications submitted otherwise will unfortunately not be considered.

Interviews: Online on 3 July 2026

The University of Applied Arts Vienna pursues an anti-discriminatory employment policy and stands for equal opportunities and diversity. We aim to have a wide range of gender identities, ages, cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds among our employees. We also strive to maintain a high proportion of women among our artistic, scientific, and general university staff, particularly in management positions, and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. In the case of underrepresentation, women with equal qualifications and suitability will be given priority.

The position requires physical presence at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna.

The University of Applied Arts welcomes applications from people with disabilities.

We regret to inform you that applicants are not entitled to compensation for travelling and accommodation expenses.

For more information, visit designinvestigations.at and Instagram.

Please direct any questions to office@designinvestigations.at.