Head of System Architecture
Zurich, SwitzerlandFull-TimeLeadOther
Your Contributions
- Define and govern a modular, layered reference system architecture (perception, planning, control, actuation, payload, safety, HMI)
- Ensure the architecture is hardware-agnostic with clear interfaces to support multiple ODDs
- Build a platform strategy where robot variants derive from the same central architecture
- Define common modules for reuse and customizable modules for ODD-specific adaptation
- Architect systems to anticipate future domains and emerging business models
- Minimize architectural changes when adding certifications, subsystem upgrades, or AI/ML improvements
- Ensure the architecture integrates with external ecosystems such as fleet management and digital twins
- Promote a single modular software backbone that scales across robot platforms
- Define standardized interfaces, middleware, and data models (ROS 2 or custom frameworks)
- Implement configuration-driven builds to spin up new platforms quickly from shared modules
- Lead the creation of a platform-derivation process balancing reuse and hardware-specific plug-ins
- Embed certification and safety requirements into the architectural design process
- Support the development of a unified simulation/test framework for multiple platform variants
- Enable parameterized models for fast switching between robot configurations
- Lead trade-off studies to balance payload, agility, endurance, and safety across variants
- Maintain architecture documentation and roadmaps for scalability and future-proofing
- Embed diagnostics, safety, and over-the-air updates across all robot platforms
Your Profile
- MSc in Systems Engineering, Electronics, Robotics, Computer Science, or related field
- 10+ years in robotics or complex systems engineering
- 5+ years in system architecture leadership in industrial environments
- Proven track record architecting and scaling mobile robotic systems
- Expertise in translating customer needs and technology capabilities into modular platform strategies
- Strong knowledge of autonomy stacks (SLAM, navigation, motion planning, fleet coordination)
- Experience with real-time systems and middleware (e.g., ROS 2)
- Skilled in hardware/software co-design across sensors, actuators, compute, and power
- Experience with safety and cybersecurity compliance in robotic platforms
- Ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and mentor engineers
- Skilled at aligning system architecture with business strategy
- Systems thinker with a future-oriented mindset
- Comfortable with trade-offs and balancing innovation with product maturity
Bonus Points
- Experience with Ex-certification or safety-critical robotic systems
- Familiarity with large-scale simulation environments and digital twin integration
- Track record of reducing time-to-market for robotic systems through platform reusability
- Experience embedding certification/safety pathways into architectural frameworks
