Lead Forward Deployed Software Engineer at Flink Robotics (Zurich, Switzerland)
Flink Robotics· Zurich, Switzerland·
Role details
Job description
Flink Robotics is a fast-paced startup, out of ETH Zürich's Computational Robotics Lab, building autonomous robots that can handle any item - including ones they’ve never seen before. We're revolutionising material handling, from stacking boxes to sorting parcels and unloading goods.
We're looking for a Lead Forward Deployed Software Engineer who loves debugging systems and turning real-world data into working software. You'll be out with our field team at customer sites, owning the adaptation and troubleshooting of our autonomy stack as it meets the conditions of each deployment.
Who you are
- Eager to join a VC-backed startup and take real ownership from the start
- Passionate about robotics: from perception and motion to autonomy and control
- An experienced problem-solver who can make decisions under ambiguity and mentor others as the team grows
- Proactive, curious and a clear communicator (fluent English, additional languages are a plus)
- Ready to travel around 50% of the time, to get the best performance out of our deployed robots
What you bring
- 5+ years of professional experience and a degree in maths, computer science, or a related field
- Experience deploying C++ code in production
- Self motivated, and thriving in entrepreneurial environments (startups, professional services, big tech)
- Proven experience diagnosing and resolving complex system issues in short turnaround cycles
- Low-ego collaboration; people love working with you
What you'll do
- Optimise robot performance after installation and ensure smooth customer handover
- Quality control and deploy incremental and major software upgrades across robot fleet
- Define and own the remote supervision process
- Guide and filter feedback from customers to the product teams
- Build out and manage the forward deployed software engineering team
Why join
- An ambitious team building a product with huge potential
- Cutting-edge robotics problems, with direct, high-stakes customer impact
- Competitive salary, equity, and top-tier gear
- Based in Zurich, with travel to partners worldwide
Apply now if you're ready to push boundaries and help shape the future of robotics!
Swiss/EU citizen, existing Swiss work permit, or a degree from a Swiss university; able to work in Switzerland without visa sponsorship
Why work at Flink Robotics
- Impact at scale: Work on robotics that solve real‑world problems (packages, logistics) – your code ships and runs on actual hardware in distribution hubs.
- Tight, agile team: Current staff of ~17, with a culture of "building things yourself" and seeing direct impact weekly.
- Cutting‑edge technology: Close proximity to ETH Zurich research; team leaders have PhDs in physical AI and machine learning. Projects span perception, control, and motion planning.
- Work environment: Hybrid/on‑site likely (Zurich-based); regular customer site visits. Benefits include direct collaboration with founders and a "tough challenges, fast execution" atmosphere.
- Open roles: As of mid‑2025, actively hiring a Hardware/Field Robotics Engineer Intern, with plans to grow further.