Paddy Hobson

Senior SLAM Engineer Location: Zurich Type: Full-time, On-site Company Overview Our client is an early-stage robotics company developing autonomy and intelligent assistance systems for large-scale mobile machinery. By combining learning-based automation with advanced remote operation, thier technology enables a single operator to safely supervise and control multiple machines in complex, real-world environments. The team brings deep academic and industrial expertise in large-scale robotics and perception, and is focused on transitioning state-of-the-art research into production systems deployed on real machines operating in demanding conditions. Role Overview This role sits at the intersection of perception, state estimation, and real-world deployment. You will contribute to the design, implementation, and deployment of advanced localization and mapping solutions for autonomous and semi-autonomous heavy machines. The systems you work on integrate multiple sensing modalities—spanning lidar, vision, inertial sensing, and satellite positioning—into a hardware-agnostic autonomy stack that can be adapted to a wide range of machine types and vintages. The role requires not only strong algorithmic expertise, but also a focus on production-quality software and system robustness. Key ResponsibilitiesDesign, prototype, and deploy real-time localization, mapping, state estimation, and calibration algorithms for large autonomous mobile platformsDevelop SLAM pipelines leveraging lidar, inertial, visual, and GNSS data sourcesOptimize system performance, robustness, and reliability under real-world operating conditionsDefine and maintain testing procedures, validation strategies, and performance metricsCollaborate closely with engineers across perception, controls, systems, and hardware to improve end-to-end autonomy performanceEnsure high-quality, maintainable implementations suitable for deployment on production systemsRequired QualificationsMaster’s or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field3 years of hands-on experience developing and deploying localization and mapping systemsStrong experience implementing SLAM and state estimation algorithms using lidar-inertial-visual sensor fusionProficiency in C and Python, with a focus on production-grade software developmentExperience working in Linux-based development environmentsAbility to manage technical risk, re-prioritize work, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced engineering environmentStrong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiencesNice to HaveExperience integrating RADAR and/or GPS/GNSS into localization or SLAM systemsFamiliarity with ROS2 and modern robotics middleware

Senior / Principal Research Scientist – Core AI Algorithms (Autonomous Systems)Location: Germany (Remote-first within Germany, on-site in Frankfurt every 2–4 weeks)About the RoleWe are partnering with a global automotive OEM building a core AI research and algorithm team responsible for the foundational intelligence behind next-generation automated driving systems.This role is research-driven and sits upstream of product teams. The focus is on inventing, validating, and transitioning new perception and world-modeling algorithms from research into production-ready systems. The team operates similarly to a big-tech research lab, but with a clear path to real-world deployment.Research Focus AreasDepending on background and interest, you may work on topics such as:3D scene understanding and world modelingOccupancy, motion forecasting, and dynamic scene reconstructionMulti-sensor perception (camera, LiDAR, radar)Representation learning for autonomous systems (BEV, implicit / generative 3D, Gaussian models, foundation models)Robustness, generalization, and long-tail perceptionLearning under weak, sparse, or noisy supervisionBridging offline training with real-world deployment constraintsKey ResponsibilitiesConduct original research in perception and autonomous systems with clear technical ownershipDesign and prototype novel algorithms and learning frameworksPublish at or contribute toward top-tier conferences and journals (e.g., CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, NeurIPS, ICRA, IROS)Translate research ideas into scalable, production-oriented implementationsCollaborate with applied ML, systems, and hardware teams to ensure feasibilityShape the long-term technical roadmap of the core AI organizationMentor junior researchers and engineers where appropriateRequired BackgroundPhD (or equivalent research experience) in Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Robotics, or a related fieldStrong publication record at top-tier conferences or journalsExperience conducting research within an industrial or applied settingExcellent understanding of modern deep learning methods and 3D perceptionStrong programming skills in Python and/or C Ability to work across the full spectrum from theory to implementationStrongly PreferredResearch experience in autonomous driving, robotics, or embodied AIWork on 3D perception, tracking, SLAM, or world modelsExperience at big-tech research labs, industrial AI labs, or advanced OEM R&DFamiliarity with real-world constraints such as runtime, memory, and system integrationPrior collaboration with product or engineering teamsWhat’s on OfferA research-first role with real influence on production systemsThe opportunity to define core algorithms, not just incremental improvementsA team culture that values publications, patents, and long-term thinkingRemote-first working model within Germany, with regular in-person collaboration in FrankfurtCompetitive compensation aligned with senior / principal research profilesWho This Role Is ForResearchers who want their work to ship into real vehiclesIndustry researchers seeking greater technical ownershipPhD-level candidates who enjoy both publishing and buildingProfiles combining academic depth with practical engineering maturityLooking forward to seeing your profile!

Deep Learning Engineer – Advanced Robotics & VLM/VLALocation: Flexible / Remote (UK or Europe preferred) Employment Type: Full-timeAbout the CompanyOur client is an ambitious AI and robotics company developing next-generation humanoid systems designed to transform how intelligent automation supports industrial and everyday environments. Their mission is to advance human potential through robotics that are scalable, safe, and capable of performing complex real-world tasks. This is a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of deep learning, multimodal AI, and robotic embodiment, helping shape the foundations of a truly intelligent automation platform. The Role As a Deep Learning Engineer, you’ll design and train large-scale models that power robotic control and perception — from foundational representation learning to behaviour cloning and reinforcement learning. You’ll work across the full data-to-deployment lifecycle, experimenting with cutting-edge multimodal architectures and building robust pipelines for high-performance, real-time systems. Key ResponsibilitiesDevelop and train deep learning models for manipulation, navigation, and general policy learning.Collaborate with teleoperations and simulation teams to define data collection goals and bridge the sim-to-real gap.Train and fine-tune multimodal LLMs, VLMs, and VLAs, integrating diverse sensory modalities (vision, audio, proprioception, LiDAR, etc.).Build scalable data pipelines for continuous ingestion, curation, weak supervision, and retraining.Partner with MLOps and infrastructure teams to enable distributed training and optimize models for real-time deployment.Contribute to shaping the next generation of embodied AI systems for safe, efficient automation.About You3 years of experience building and deploying deep learning systems (industry or research).Strong proficiency in Python and PyTorch or JAX.Hands-on experience with LLMs, VLMs, or generative models for image/video.Deep understanding of training infrastructure (streaming datasets, checkpointing, distributed compute).Strong communicator with clear experiment documentation and the ability to explain complex technical decisions.Bonus PointsExperience in robotics, autonomous driving, or other embodied AI domains.Background in reinforcement learning (PPO, DPO, SAC, etc.) or RL for LLMs.Experience optimizing deep nets for production (latency, telemetry, on-device inference).Publications at top-tier ML conferences (ICLR, NeurIPS, ICML) or significant open-source contributions.Familiarity with OpenVLA, π models, or similar embodied AI frameworks.What’s on OfferCompetitive compensation including stock options.Flexible remote-first setup with opportunities for international collaboration.Work with world-class researchers and engineers building truly transformative technology.A fast-paced, innovation-driven culture where ideas move quickly from concept to prototype.

We are looking for an experienced Engineer/Scientist to join a cutting-edge robotics team in Zurich, focused on humanoid manipulation through state-of-the-art AI. You will contribute to developing and deploying learning-based controllers to enable robots to interact intelligently, reliably, and flexibly with complex environments. This role is deeply hands-on with real robot hardware, leveraging your expertise across vision-language-action (VLA) models, diffusion models, reinforcement learning, and dexterous manipulation. What we’re looking for:PhD or Master's in Robotics, AI, or related fieldsStrong expertise in learning-based dexterous manipulation (multi-fingered grasping, task-oriented manipulation)Practical experience with running real-time controllers on robotic hardwareDeep knowledge of diffusion models, transformers, CVAEs, normalizing flowsExperience working with ROS, PyTorch, and PythonFamiliarity with vision-language models (VLA/VLMs/LLMs) for robotic planning or failure detectionBonus: experience with synthetic data generation, simulation environments, teleoperation systemsWhy this role?Join a high-calibre team (ex-ETH / ex-NVIDIA founders) backed by significant investment (Seed Series A secured)Work at the intersection of simulation, reinforcement learning, and robotics hardwareContribute to next-generation humanoid robots without reliance on traditional imitation learning paradigmsSignificant stock offering.If you’re passionate about building more intelligent robots through cutting-edge AI and want to work in a fast-moving, well-resourced environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Applied AI Research Engineer – Intelligent Robotics Location: Remote, EU (within CET ±3 hours) Employment Type: Full-time Department: Engineering About the Opportunity We’re partnering with an innovative robotics company on a mission to redefine intelligent automation in manufacturing. This organisation is building next-generation robotic systems that combine cutting-edge AI with flexible hardware to create smarter, more adaptive automation solutions for real-world production environments. As an Applied AI Research Engineer, you’ll contribute directly to developing advanced AI systems for robotics — transforming the latest academic and industry research into deployable, real-world solutions. This is a hands-on research and development role at the intersection of AI, robotics, and embodied intelligence. What You’ll DoConduct R&D in areas such as:Foundational Models (LLMs, VLMs, VLAs): Apply multimodal and large language models to robotic decision-making.Reinforcement Learning: Design and implement control strategies for robotic manipulation and task execution.Sim2Real Transfer: Leverage synthetic data and simulation tools to enable robust model deployment in real environments.Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to bring research concepts to production-ready applications.Stay at the forefront of the latest advancements in AI and help shape how intelligent automation evolves in manufacturing.About YouStrong background in machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, or algorithmic development.Hands-on experience applying research to real-world use cases.Solid understanding of LLMs, VLMs, and reinforcement learning (on/off-policy, actor-critic, model-based).Proficiency in Python and experience with frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Hugging Face.Comfortable working in Linux environments with tools like Docker, Git, and Conda.Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP).Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a structured and creative mindset.Strong communicator who can clearly express complex concepts and research insights.Nice to HaveExperience with robotics systems (e.g. ROS/ROS2, Behaviour Trees)Exposure to agentic AI or multimodal AI researchWhy ApplyJoin a company pioneering AI-driven robotics with a mission to make automation accessible and efficient across industries.Work alongside an expert team at the forefront of intelligent systems development.Enjoy a flexible, remote-first culture with competitive compensation and opportunities for growth and innovation.