Organizer Information
Ars Electronica Linz GmbH & Co KG is a cultural, educational, and research institution of the City of Linz, Austria. Its activities include the Ars Electronica Center, Ars Electronica Festival, Prix Ars Electronica, Ars Electronica Futurelab, Ars Electronica Solutions, and Ars Electronica Export. The organization employs more than 200 people year-round, with additional temporary staff. This position is based within the Ars Electronica Futurelab, an interdisciplinary environment focused on artistic and technological research and experimentation.
Title & Description
Lead Researcher – Interactive Media Art, Technology and Design at Ars Electronica
The Lead Researcher – Interactive Media Art, Technology and Design position offers an opportunity to work at the intersection of art, technology, and society. The successful candidate will contribute artistic and technological perspectives to Futurelab's research and project activities and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to develop innovative, future-oriented prototypes. The work specifically includes projects that move beyond conventional screen-based applications and explore new forms of interaction, technology, and artistic expression.
The Role Overview
- Position: Lead Researcher
- Field: Interactive Media Art, Technology and Design
- Employer: Ars Electronica Linz GmbH & Co KG
- Department: Ars Electronica Futurelab
- Contract Type: Permanent, full-time position
- Working Hours: 32–40 hours per week; salary stated for 40 hours
- Location: Linz, Austria
- Salary: €3,598–€5,164 gross per month for full-time employment, depending on qualifications and professional experience
- Application Deadline: 12 October 2026
- Contact Person: Maria Mayr, +43 664 8126 155
Position & Tasks
The Lead Researcher will introduce new artistic and technological perspectives and questions into Futurelab's projects and research activities. Working with an interdisciplinary team, the researcher will develop innovative prototypes with a focus on future-oriented applications beyond purely screen-based experiences.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing and implementing artistic-technological projects and prototypes.
- Taking on design and development tasks.
- Providing technical coordination for internal and external projects.
- Supporting projects throughout their complete lifecycle.
- Exploring new technologies through artistic and experimental approaches.
- Contributing to projects intended to encourage dialogue, create impact, and potentially initiate social change.
- Collaborating within intercultural and interdisciplinary project environments.
Categories
- Interactive Media Art
- Technology
- Design
- Digital Art
- New Media Art
- Artificial Intelligence
- Game Development
- Multimedia
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Interface Design
- Information Design
- Robotics
- Physical Computing
- Media Technology
- Virtual Reality
- Mixed Reality
Eligibility
The position is intended for candidates with professional experience in one or more relevant technological or creative fields. Applicants should have:
- Strong programming and technical implementation skills.
- A completed university degree in a relevant field or comparable qualification.
- Experience with artistic and exploratory work involving new technologies.
- Project management and communication skills.
- Openness to intercultural and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Very good English proficiency. The supplied listing contains conflicting language requirements: one version specifies very good English, while another specifies proficiency in German. Applicants should confirm the current language requirement with Ars Electronica.
- Professional experience in areas such as AI, multimedia, HCI, robotics, physical computing, VR/MR, or related disciplines.
Applicants do not need to meet every listed requirement if they have relevant professional experience and strong interest in specific areas. Female applicants are given preference where qualifications are equal.
Program Benefits
The successful candidate will receive a permanent position within Ars Electronica Futurelab and access to an interdisciplinary working environment focused on art, technology, and society. Additional employment benefits include flexible and family-friendly working arrangements, home-office options, Pluxee restaurant vouchers, a monthly subsidy toward the KlimaTicket, affordable central parking, occupational health and workplace psychological support, a discounted Culture Card, and employee events.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Applicants should send their application documents to: jobs@ars.electronica.art
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 12 October 2026
- Start Date: As soon as possible
- Employment Duration: Permanent
- Working Hours: 32–40 hours per week
Location
Linz, Austria
Additional Details
This is an employment opportunity rather than a conventional artistic open call, grant, residency, or competition. Applicants should therefore prepare professional employment application documents demonstrating relevant technical, artistic, and project experience. The role combines research, artistic experimentation, technology development, design, and project coordination. The supplied source contains a discrepancy regarding the required language: the first version lists very good English, while the second lists proficiency in German. This should be clarified directly with Ars Electronica before applying.