Tech Lead (Robotics Systems)

LAYERED GmbH seeks a Senior Tech Lead for Robotics Systems in Lupfig, CH. This foundational role bridges hardware and software to transition autonomous construction robots from prototypes to scalable, reliable products.

LAYERED GmbH, a Swiss construction robotics startup originating from ETH Zurich’s Gramazio Kohler Research, develops autonomous mobile robots for surface finishing on active construction sites. This position serves as a foundational technical leadership role at the intersection of robotics, hardware, and software, focusing on the critical transition from advanced prototypes to reliable, repeatable robotic systems deployed at scale.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the overall system architecture, including the 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Help evolve the engineering structure as the company grows

Requirements

• 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.

What the company offers

• 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.

About the company

LAYERED GmbH combines robotics, digital fabrication, and AI-driven planning to handle the variability and constraints of the built environment. The company keeps skilled craftspeople at the center of the process and is transitioning from advanced prototypes to reliable, repeatable robotic systems deployed at scale.

• The company combines robotics, digital fabrication, and AI-driven planning to handle the variability and constraints of the built environment.
• The company keeps skilled craftspeople at the center of the process.
• The role is not a pure management role and expects hands-on involvement with the system.
• The company is transitioning from advanced prototypes to reliable, repeatable robotic systems deployed at scale.