Lead Sensor Physicist

Destinusgroup seeks a Lead Sensor Physicist in Zürich to design core sensing elements for a proprietary Inertial Measurement Unit, driving advancements in navigation technology.

The Lead Sensor Physicist will lead the design of the core sensing element for a proprietary Inertial Measurement Unit. This role transforms advanced mathematical models into high-performance micro-scale sensor architectures, directly influencing the accuracy, stability, and performance of navigation technology that pushes beyond conventional hardware limits.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize micro-scale sensing structures using advanced multi-physics simulation tools to define IMU performance geometries.
• Model mechanical, structural, acoustic, and thermal behaviors to maximize energy storage and minimize losses affecting sensor precision.
• Design electrostatic interfaces, including drive pads and sensing gaps, ensuring seamless integration with electronics architecture.
• Translate complex simulation results into detailed engineering layouts ready for cleanroom fabrication.
• Collaborate with Materials and Process Engineers to ensure designs are manufacturable without compromising performance.
• Work alongside FPGA and Software Engineers to convert physical sensor behavior into algorithms and system-level requirements.
• Continuously refine sensor performance through simulation, analysis, and validation to achieve exceptional stability and accuracy.

Requirements

• Master's degree or PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience developing precision sensing technologies or advanced MEMS devices.
• Extensive hands-on experience with multi-physics simulation software covering mechanical, thermal, structural, and electrostatic modeling.
• Strong understanding of vibration dynamics, energy dissipation, structural mechanics, and micro-scale physical systems.
• Experience translating theoretical physics into practical engineering designs suitable for manufacturing.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly across multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Nice to have

• Experience with precision sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, atomic clocks, resonators, or acoustic wave devices is highly valued.
• Familiarity with semiconductor fabrication processes and cleanroom manufacturing is considered a plus.

About the company

Destinusgroup is revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The company partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission-critical operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost-effectiveness. The culture values curiosity, solving complex physical problems, and combining deep theoretical knowledge with practical engineering thinking to create elegant, real-world solutions.

• Driven by curiosity and enjoying solving complex physical problems that have never been solved before.
• Combining deep theoretical knowledge with practical engineering thinking to find elegant solutions that perform in the real world.
• Thriving in multidisciplinary environments where physics, electronics, manufacturing, and software come together.
• Taking ownership of challenging technical problems, communicating clearly across teams, and being motivated by seeing ideas evolve from mathematical models into breakthrough hardware.