Hardware Lead (Principal Hardware Engineer)

Our Mission

At Laelaps AI, we believe robotics is entering a transformative decade, much like the arrival of the internet. Advances in AI, cloud computing, and hardware are reshaping what autonomous systems can do. Our mission is to build the intelligent software that powers physical security in the real world - enabling robots and sensors to handle dangerous and critical tasks that humans shouldn't have to. By engineering the orchestration layer for intelligent security, we aim to create a world that is safer, more secure, and more resilient.

We're a strong founding team based in Zurich, backed by visionary investors and advisors. We are engineering the future of security today!

The Role

As Hardware Lead, you'll build and own the hardware function at Laelaps AI from the ground up. Today we have deep expertise across AI, autonomy, and software, with zero hardware in-house. You'll change that.

You'll define our hardware strategy across ground, aerial, and stationary platforms, take ownership of the physical robots that run our field foundation models, and grow the hardware team behind you as the company scales. This is a high-leverage role. You'll be the senior hardware voice in the company, working directly with founders to decide what we build, how we source it, and how it survives in the field.

Expect to be deeply hands-on for the first year: building, testing, and iterating on real platforms in real conditions, while laying the foundation for a hardware org you'll later lead.

What You'll Own

• Hardware strategy: platform choices (build vs. partner vs. integrate) across ground robots, drones, and stationary sensors.

• Mechanical design: chassis, mounting, and ruggedization for outdoor security deployments.

• Electrical and electromechanical systems: power, compute, actuation, sensing integration.

• Sensor integration (cameras, LiDAR, IMU, GPS, audio): selection, calibration, and physical integration.

• Manufacturing and supply chain: prototype-to-production pipeline, vendor management, BOM ownership.

• Field reliability: environmental qualification, MTBF, failure analysis, and durability programs.

• Hiring: build the hardware team behind you as the product scales.

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for an experienced hardware engineer who has shipped real robotic systems into the field, not just prototypes that demoed well. You've seen what breaks at scale, what survives, and what doesn't. You move fast without compromising on reliability, because security customers can't tolerate flaky hardware.

Your Background:

• 8+ years in robotics, autonomous systems, or adjacent hardware, with at least one product taken from prototype into the field.

• Deep expertise across mechanical, electrical, and systems integration. World-class in at least one, strong in the others.

• Hands-on experience taking robots through prototype, DVT, PVT, and into production.

• Track record of ruggedizing hardware for outdoor, all-weather, or harsh environments.

• Experience managing manufacturing partners and supply chains.

• Strong systems thinker. You reason cleanly across mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software boundaries.

Nice to Have:

• Experience across multiple mobile robot form factors (legged, wheeled, aerial).

• Background in defense, security, industrial inspection, or other outdoor field robotics domains.

• Familiarity with ROS 2 and modern robot bring-up workflows.

• Prior experience starting and scaling a hardware team from zero.

What We Offer

• Ownership: you are the first in line to build and lead the team you help hire.

• Mission: autonomous security that keeps people and critical sites safe, including in defence.

• Career path: a ground-floor seat with real runway. Prove your value and you will not have barriers to grow.

• Team: work directly with PhD-level co-founders in AI, Robotics, and Physics, alongside a strong (and fun) founding team.

• Compensation: Competitive equity/salary package

• Culture: a small, international founding team that is serious about building but does not take itself too seriously.

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