Global R&D Manager

Laurastar SA; Fruence; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Lauristar SA seeks a Global R&D Manager to lead its R&D activities, turning the product vision into innovative products and services. You will manage the R&D team and drive current development while pursuing future innovations in parallel.

You will integrate AI, IoT and robotics into Laurastar’s products and work with suppliers, universities, labs and partners to accelerate design, testing and market introduction.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree required.
• Strong daily use of AI tools and interest in their impact on product development.
• Good understanding of IoT data management and usage.
• Fluent English; French is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the R&D team and translate product vision into market-ready products and services.
• Run multiple development projects from concept to launch on time and budget.
• Own the R&D budget and the product development roadmap.
• Integrate AI, IoT, and robotics into Laurastar’s offerings in collaboration with partners.
• Cross-department leadership with purchasing, quality, production, marketing and more.

Skills

AI tool proficiency

IoT data understanding

Robotics interest

Fluent English

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

AI platforms

IoT analytics

Job description

Global R&D Manager

Reporting directly to Julie Monney, co-CEO, you will lead Laurastar’s R&D activities and turn the company’s product vision into innovative products and services brought successfully to market. You will manage our R&D team while driving current product development and future innovation in parallel.

You will also play a key role in integrating AI, IoT and robotics into our products, services and ways of working, in close collaboration with internal departments, suppliers, universities, laboratories and technology partners.

Your key responsibilities

Manage the R&D teamand turn the company’s product vision into products and services on the market.

• Supervise the R&D team: priorities, coaching, technical decisions.
• Run several development projects in parallel, from concept to market launch, on time and on budget.
• Own the R&D budget and the product development roadmap.

Run current product development and innovation in parallel, working with internal and external partners.

• Balance the development of today’s products with future innovation.
• Drive next-generation steam: miniaturisation, performance.
• Explore new products and uses in fabric care and steam cleaning with the co-CEO.

Bring AI, IoT data and robotics into Laurastar’s products, services and ways of working.

• Use AI tools daily and lead their adoption across R&D to design, simulate, test and improve products faster.
• Build partnerships with AI engineering platforms that use AI to speed up simulation and design.
• Own our IoT product data: understand what connected products tell us, and build toward predictive analysis (usage, maintenance, next products).
• Keep a close watch on home robotics and humanoid robots, and explore their potential for Laurastar.

Be the cross-department lead for product development with purchasing, quality, in-house production, marketing, digital and the other departments.

• Work hand in hand with these departments at every stage of development, so that projects move forward together from concept to production.
• Bring the R&D view into product, cost and launch decisions.

Help develop relationships with suppliers and partners, from industrialisation to universities, labs and technology companies.

• Work with our current development partners and suppliers.
• Bring in new partners: universities, research labs and technology companies.

Your profile

• Engineering degree.
• Confident daily user of AI tools, with a strong interest in their impact on product development.
• Good understanding of IoT data and how it can be managed and used.
• Strong interest in robotics. In-depth expertise in humanoid robotics is not required.
• Fluent English; French is an asset.
• Willingness to travel when required.

Experience required

• Solid experience in a similar role, and a real passion for product development and innovation.
• You have personally led developments, worked with suppliers and brought products to market.
• Experience in industrialisation with suppliers: moving a product from development into series production.
• You know how to find, negotiate and run partnerships with universities, labs and tech companies.

Your personality and soft skills

• You are a hands-on engineering leader who enjoys building products and turning ideas into solutions people can use every day.
• You have strong communication and interpersonal skills and can engage effectively with teams and stakeholders at every level.
• You demonstrate excellent project management skills.
• You enjoy working closely with a visionary co-CEO and translating ambitious ideas into realistic and actionable plans.
• You are results-driven and motivated by seeing projects reach completion and products successfully enter the market.

What we offer

• The opportunity to lead R&D within an innovative, international and family-owned Swiss company.
• A hands-on role combining R&D team management, product development and innovation.
• Direct collaboration with the co-CEO and close interaction with teams across the organization.
• The opportunity to shape the use of AI, IoT and robotics within Laurastar’s products and development processes.
• A multicultural work environment with access to an external network of universities, laboratories and technology partners.

Ready to make an impact?

Join Laurastar and lead the development of the products and technologies that will shape the future of fabric care and steam cleaning.