---
title: 'Housing | Openings & Envelope System Lead at ZURU'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/housing-openings-envelope-system-lead-zuru-modena-h27358ygmdp4'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-06'
---

# Housing | Openings & Envelope System Lead at ZURU

- **Company:** ZURU
- **Location:** Modena, Italy
- **Compensation:** €55k–€77k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-11-05
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-06
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/zuru/df1f63a1-82c5-424d-a110-2b5b9847c92e

## Job description

## About ZURU Tech

ZURU is a reimagination company, building next-generation products and brands across toys, consumer goods, pet science and construction. ZURU Tech is leading the next building revolution. Construction is one of the world’s biggest industries, but it’s one of the last to be transformed by technology. Buildings are still designed in disconnected tools, engineered by hand and pieced together on site. We’re changing that. We’ve spent the past decade rebuilding the process from the ground up, starting with the world’s first BIM software connected directly to fully automated production. It’s software for everyone. Our multidisciplinary engineers combine architecture, structural and civil engineering with software development, and they build that know-how into the platform, so you don’t need to be an expert to design a building. We use AI across our team, with dedicated AI & ML specialists and engineers who use AI agents every day to prototype and ship faster. In the platform, AI handles non-creative decisions and checks designs, that way, users can focus on the design itself. When a design is ready, it goes straight to our automated factory. There, machines and robots we build ourselves make the components with precision, and the components are shipped for fast assembly on site. Software, engineering, robotics and manufacturing all sit under one roof at ZURU Tech, backed by the scale and founder-led drive of ZURU Group: 5,000 people in 34 offices, selling into more than 150 markets, with over 100 acres of fully automated manufacturing. And we’re only getting started.

## About the role

We're looking for an Openings & Envelope System Lead to lead the building envelope of ZURU homes as a system: the windows, doors, skylights, curtain walls, facades and cladding that keep a home comfortable, dry, quiet and good-looking. At ZURU Tech we design homes as a product. In Italy we own the systems: what a home must offer the people who live in it, and the design rules in our building design platform that deliver it. You'll work with ZURU teams around the world: detailed part and mechanical design in New Zealand, manufacturing in China, and architecture and industrial design in Los Angeles. You'll report to our CTO and CDO and lead the Openings & Envelope Design Engineers. You will:

- Own the product decisions for the envelope: window, door and skylight families, glazing build-ups, curtain wall and cladding systems, their performance targets and the options customers can choose.
- Define what each design rule in our platform must produce and why (rough openings, tolerances, fixings, drainage, joints, thermal bridges and installation), and shape those rules in the prototype together with the Product Engineer.
- Open the work for the domain's squads, validate their user stories for domain and product correctness, and decide when the domain is right.
- Set out what the envelope must achieve (performance, tolerances, joints and sealing) for the hardware and manufacturing teams, and work with them and with procurement on parts, suppliers and testing.
- Be accountable for the thermal, condensation, air, water, wind, acoustic and fire performance of the envelope in every market ZURU sells into.
- Analyse the test results produced by the hardware team and turn every finding into a design rule.
- Lead the Openings & Envelope Design Engineers and hire the experts the team is missing. Must have:
- Experience as the senior technical authority for building envelope systems: signing off designs and writing the internal standards others follow.
- Structural, energy and hygrothermal analysis that you run and challenge yourself: glass and fixings, thermal bridges, condensation and moisture.
- A solid understanding of the interfaces between envelope and structure: movement, deflection and tolerances.
- The ability to read test results and turn them into design decisions.
- Experience designing with agentic AI: working through AI agents and prototypes, not only through drawings and documents.
- Fluent English, written and spoken. Nice to have:
- Experience with envelope performance requirements in more than one market (e.g. Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand).
- Experience with industrialised, prefabricated or off-site construction.
- Experience leading a team of engineers. Who thrives at ZURU This isn't a 9-to-5. We move fast, think big, and set goals most companies would call impossible, then go after them. The people who thrive here are entrepreneurs at heart. They own their work, chase bold ideas, and never stop raising the bar. At ZURU, you drive your career, and we give you the platform to take it as far as you can. There are opportunities here that you won’t find anywhere else, and you'll be surrounded by talented people who make things happen. We're a true meritocracy: we reward impact, not tenure. Contract: CCNL Commercio e servizi (H011) - Quadro level Contract type: Full-time, 40 hours per week - Permanent Salary: €55.000 - 70.000 RAL Work mode: Hybrid policy Place of work: Modena, we evaluate also people based in Milan for our Milan office

## How we work

Big ideas happen when great people work side by side, so we're office-first by design. Being together means faster collaboration, sharper decisions and stronger teams, and it's where the real learning happens. Some flexibility may be available depending on the role, location and business needs. At ZURU Tech, we have a hybrid work policy. Read our policies here: https://bush-calf-fb8.notion.site/ZURU-Tech-Italy-1a15e372c7ea808a8cf1f91f72af801c Want to see what life at ZURU really looks like? Follow @LifeatZURU on Instagram or visit [www.zuru.com](http://www.zuru.com). ZURU – Reimagining tomorrow 🚀

The data collected will be processed in compliance with EU Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) and Italian Legislative Decree 196/2003, exclusively for the purpose of personnel selection. The company is committed to ensuring equal opportunities and non-discrimination based on sex, race, language, religion, political opinions, or personal and social conditions. This announcement is open to all candidates, men and women, without any form of discrimination. ZURU may use AI tools to help screen, assess or select applicants.

## About ZURU

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: ZURU is a privately held, family-owned conglomerate that designs and manufactures innovative toys, disruptive consumer goods, and develops fully automated construction technology.
- **Entity Type**: Private (bootstrapped; funded via a $20,000 family loan and reinvested profits)
- **Headquarters**: Hong Kong (with major hubs in Shenzhen, Auckland, Los Angeles, London, Modena, Ahmedabad)
- **Founded**: 2003
- **Founders**: Nick Mowbray, Mat Mowbray, and Anna Mowbray

## Core Business
ZURU operates across three core divisions that span multiple industries: toys (ZURU Toys), fast-moving consumer goods (ZURU Edge), and construction technology (ZURU Tech). Its primary customers are children and families (B2C through retail and e‑commerce), consumers of personal care, baby, and pet products (B2C), and the global construction industry (B2B – developers, builders, and homeowners). The company’s mission, as stated on its website, is to **“reimagine tomorrow”** – relentlessly disrupting stagnant categories and redefining what’s possible.

## Products & Services
- **[ZURU Toys](https://zuru.com/)**: A portfolio of more than 15 toy brands including Mini Brands™, Bunch O Balloons™, XSHOT™, Rainbocorns™, Robo Alive™, Smashers™, and Fuggler™. Distributed to major retailers in over 120 countries. Known for rapid innovation and viral product launches.
- **[ZURU Edge](https://zuru.com/)**: A consumer‑goods division building “tomorrow’s brands” across five verticals:
  - **Baby Care** – Millie Moon (premium nappies), Rascals (value baby care)
  - **Personal Care & Beauty** – MONDAY Haircare (fastest‑growing haircare brand in the US)
  - **Pet Care** – Rhodes Pet Science
  - **Home Care**
  - **Health & Wellness**
- **[ZURU Tech](https://zuru.com/built-different-the-zuru-story/)**: A construction‑tech division developing the world’s first fully integrated, fully automated building ecosystem. Key components:
  - **Dreamcatcher** – A proprietary BIM (Building Information Modelling) platform built on a gaming engine that lets consumers customise homes room‑by‑room, automatically handling compliance, structural loads, and site conditions.
  - **Automated factory** – A planned full‑scale facility (2 km × 800 m) where components are manufactured without human intervention and shipped to site.
  - 600+ engineers working across six global R&D hubs; over 100 patents filed.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: $2.6 billion (as reported in ZURU’s own ‘Built Different’ story; year not specified, but context suggests 2024/2025)
- **Key Metric**: Employee count of **6,000** across 34 offices and 120+ markets (as of 2025). Annual revenue is not publicly disclosed.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: The company is self‑funded (no external investors). Key partners include **Disney, Universal Studios, DreamWorks, Nickelodeon** (for entertainment toy lines), **Ulta Beauty** and **KFC** for co‑branded consumer‑goods launches, and **IKEA** (furniture scanned into Dreamcatcher for home customisation).
- **Growth Signals**:
  - ZURU Edge – MONDAY Haircare became one of the fastest‑growing US haircare brands within two years of launch.
  - ZURU Toys – Bunch O Balloons transformed the water‑balloon category; annual shipments of certain items exceed 39 million units.
  - ZURU Tech – First full‑scale homes are in production; the team is actively scaling the factory and software development.
  - Headcount grew from 5,000 (earlier reference) to 6,000, reflecting continued expansion.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Vertical Integration**: ZURU owns its entire value chain – from concept and design to automated manufacturing (over 100 acres of factory space) and global distribution.
- **Speed of Innovation**: Known for being faster, leaner, and more agile than incumbents – “fire bullets, fail fast” is a core operating principle.
- **Cross‑Division Synergy**: Insights and lean manufacturing from toys are applied to consumer goods and construction, creating economies of scale and rapid learning loops.
- **Proprietary Construction Tech**: Dreamcatcher is a unique, patent‑protected platform that directly connects a consumer‑facing front‑end to fully automated production, potentially disrupting the $40 trillion construction industry.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scale ZURU Edge**: Continue launching new brands in pet care, baby care, beauty, home, and health – targeting legacy categories with outdated incumbents.
- **Commercialise ZURU Tech**: Build the full‑scale automated factory, secure construction partners, and begin delivering homes at a fraction of traditional cost.
- **Global Expansion**: Extend reach into new markets (currently 120+ countries) and grow headcount, especially in engineering, R&D, and operations.
- **Talent Density**: Hire “the driven and the brave” – experts who can operate with radical candour and a compounding‑improvement mindset.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: ZURU’s internal DNA is built on principles like *Good Humans Only, Compounding Improvement (2% per week), Radical Candour, Shift the Needle, and Overprepare and Win*. The environment is described as high‑performance, meritocratic, and feedback‑driven.
- **Global Exposure**: Offices in 34 locations including **Shenzhen, Auckland, Los Angeles, London, Modena, and Ahmedabad**. Team members work on global projects that cross industries and markets.
- **Benefits**: Health insurance in most locations; 24/7 private gym (Shenzhen only); run clubs, table tennis, and social sporting teams; **Friday catered happy hours** to unwind and connect.
- **Professional Development**: Mentorship from leading entrepreneurs, access to training materials, and a culture of “leadership on the dance floor” – teams are given real responsibility early. Internship programs are available.
- **Work Model**: The company appears to be primarily **on‑site / office‑based**, though some roles may offer flexibility. The website emphasises collaboration and face‑to‑face connection.

## Sources
1. [zuru.com](https://zuru.com/) – Company overview, three divisions, mission
2. [wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuru_(company)) – Founding details, founders, headquarters, brands
3. [zuru.com/built-different-the-zuru-story](https://zuru.com/built-different-the-zuru-story/) – Valuation, employee count, ZURU Tech details, factory scale
4. [zuru.com/careers](https://zuru.com/careers/) – Culture values (Good Humans Only, Compounding Improvement, etc.), benefits, locations, recruitment process
5. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/zuru](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/zuru) – Open roles (referenced for completeness)

## Other roles at ZURU

- [External & Internal Audit Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/external-internal-audit-manager-zuru-auckland-826rn8x2zejv) — Auckland, New Zealand
- [Senior Account Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-account-manager-zuru-minneapolis-nga8qky48qdz) — Minneapolis, MN / United States
- [Senior Marketing Manager - SEA](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-marketing-manager-sea-zuru-philippines-r2e6fpj0k5he) — Philippines
- [Marketing Summer Internship 2026/2027](https://feeny.ai/job/marketing-summer-internship-2026-2027-zuru-auckland-6456d71mxjed) — Auckland, New Zealand
- [Marketing Coordinator - Confectionery](https://feeny.ai/job/marketing-coordinator-confectionery-zuru-auckland-fjhvg6g2kvyw) — Auckland, New Zealand
- [Social and Content Executive](https://feeny.ai/job/social-and-content-executive-zuru-auckland-ypvvwzncdfc4) — Auckland, New Zealand
- [Shopper and Brand Activation Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/shopper-and-brand-activation-manager-zuru-auckland-r2w6vwdy0zyp) — Auckland, New Zealand
- [Social and Content Coordinator - Beauty](https://feeny.ai/job/social-and-content-coordinator-beauty-zuru-sydney-f6jxvrtc7ttf) — Sydney, Australia
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- [Marketing Executive - Pet](https://feeny.ai/job/marketing-executive-pet-zuru-auckland-h5rajer9njbv) — Auckland, New Zealand