Tech Lead (Robotics Systems)

LAYERED GmbH; Schweiz; On-site; EUR 150,521 - 204,278; Full time

Job summary

LAYERED GmbH in Lupfig, Switzerland, is seeking a Tech Lead to shape the long-term technical direction at the intersection of robotics, hardware and software. You will own system architecture, guide engineering execution, and help scale a growing fleet of autonomous construction robots.

This foundational role requires hands-on ownership, mentoring across disciplines, and the ability to translate product needs into engineering priorities while building a scalable engineering culture.

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years of experience in robotics, mechatronics, or autonomous systems.
• Experience building and deploying real-world robotic systems.
• Ability to work across hardware and software boundaries.
• Experience making system-level architecture decisions.
• Experience scaling engineering teams or complex products.
• Comfortable in an early-stage startup environment.
• Hands-on mindset, with robots in lab and on site.
• Fluent in English.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain overall system architecture for the robotics platform.
• Align architecture with hardware, controls, perception and planning.
• Transition research prototypes to product-ready systems.
• Establish standards for reliability, safety, and maintainability.
• Shape technical roadmap aligned with product goals.
• Translate commercial needs into engineering priorities.
• Balance long-term vision with short-term delivery.
• Mentor engineers across software, controls, perception, and mechatronics.
• Improve development processes, documentation and testing.
• Support hiring and technical evaluation.
• Be the technical reference during complex integration or deployment.
• Help evolve the engineering structure as the company grows.
• Contribute to building a scalable engineering culture.
• Support communication with partners, customers and investors.

Skills

Robotics experience

Mechatronics

Hardware–software integration

System architecture decisions

Scaling teams

Startup environment

Hands-on with robots

English proficiency

Job description

Tech Lead (Robotics Systems)

Location: Lupfig, Switzerland (on-site)

Start: by Q3 2026

Type: Full-time

About LAYERED

LAYERED is a Swiss construction robotics startup emerging from ETH Zurich’s Gramazio Kohler Research, a pioneer in digital fabrication and robotic construction.

We build autonomous mobile robots that perform surface finishing tasks directly on real construction sites. Our systems combine robotics, digital fabrication, and AI-driven planning to handle the variability and constraints of the built environment, making site work safer, more efficient, and more sustainable while keeping skilled craftspeople at the center of the process.

Our robots are already running in mock-ups and on real construction sites. We are now entering a new phase: transitioning from advanced prototypes to reliable, repeatable robotic systems deployed at scale.

To support this growth, we are looking for a Tech Lead who will help shape LAYERED’s long-term technical direction,

The Role

This is a foundational technical leadership role at the intersection of robotics, hardware, and software.

You will work closely with the founders and take responsibility for aligning system architecture, engineering execution, and product reliability as we move from a small team and a few robots to a structured engineering organization and a growing fleet.

This role combines deep technical ownership, product thinking, and company-building responsibility.

This is not a pure management role. You are expected to stay hands-on with the system, especially in architecture decisions, integration challenges, and key technical bottlenecks.

What You Will Work On

System Architecture & Technical Direction

• Define and maintain the overall system architecture (robotic platform, sensing, control, and software stack)
• Ensure strong integration between hardware, controls, perception, and planning
• Guide the transition from research prototypes to product-ready systems
• Establish technical standards for reliability, safety, and maintainability

Roadmap & Product Alignment

• Play a key role in shaping the technical roadmap in alignment with product and deployment goals
• Translate commercial and operational needs into clear engineering priorities
• Balance long-term technical vision with short-term delivery constraints

Engineering Leadership

• Mentor and support engineers across software, controls, perception, and mechatronics
• Help structure development processes, documentation, and testing practices
• Support hiring and technical evaluation of new team members
• Act as a technical reference point during complex integration or deployment issues

Scaling the Organization

• Help evolve the engineering structure as the company grows
• Contribute to building a scalable engineering culture and best practices
• Support technical communication with partners, customers, and investors when needed

Requirements

Must Have

• 5–10+ years of industry experience in robotics, mechatronics, or autonomous systems
• Experience building and deploying real-world robotic or mechatronic systems
• Proven ability to work across hardware and software boundaries
• Experience making system-level architecture decisions
• Exposure to scaling engineering teams or complex technical products
• Comfortable working in an early-stage startup environment with evolving structure
• Hands-on mindset, willing to get involved with real robots in the lab and on site
• Fluent in English

Nice to Have

• Experience in a robotics startup or high-growth technology company
• Experience in large industry programs involving complex hardware systems
• Familiarity with controls, perception, or motion planning at a system level
• Experience moving a system from prototype to product and early scaling
• Strong interest in staying connected to current research and emerging technologies
• German language skills

Who You Are

• You think in systems, not only components
• You enjoy connecting hardware reality with software architecture
• You are pragmatic and care about robots that work reliably in the field
• You like helping others grow and raising the technical level of a team
• You are motivated by building a company, not just a technical system

What You Get

• A foundational technical leadership role in a growing robotics company
• A clear path toward a CTO position as the company scales
• The opportunity to shape the architecture and roadmap of a new generation of construction robots
• Work on one of the most challenging real-world applications for robotics
• A highly interdisciplinary team combining robotics, construction, and digital fabrication
• Competitive salary + meaningful equity package

LAYERED is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and does not discriminate based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or any other protected legal status.