Forward Deployed Engineer

Laelaps AI is a Zurich‑based start‑up developing intelligent software that powers autonomous security robots and sensors. The company's mission is to make dangerous, critical tasks safer by delivering an orchestration layer for physical security across industrial sites, critical infrastructure and military locations. As a Forward Deployed Engineer you will be the technical lead for each customer rollout, handling everything from site assessment to final hand‑over while representing Laelaps on‑site. Your daily work will involve travelling to customer facilities throughout Switzerland and Europe, conducting surveys, planning network and hardware layouts, installing edge hardware such as NVIDIA DGX Spark or Jetson devices, and integrating cameras, VMS platforms and robots. You will fine‑tune detection and tracking algorithms to match local lighting and terrain, turn pilot projects into full contracts, and create runbooks and automation tools that speed up future deployments. In addition, you will gather feedback from operators and senior security staff, translate those insights into code and product priorities, and train end‑users to operate the system reliably. The role requires at least three years of experience in software, robotics, embedded systems or systems integration, together with a master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent hands‑on expertise. You must be fluent in Python and C++, comfortable working with Docker containers on‑premise, and familiar with sensor interfaces and communication protocols. Strong emotional intelligence and a proven track record of direct customer interaction are essential, as is the ability to stay composed when technical issues arise on‑site. The position also demands fluency in German, solid English skills, willingness to travel for multi‑day visits, residence in or relocation to Zurich, citizenship of Switzerland, an EU/EFTA or NATO member state with clearance eligibility, and a valid category B driver's licence. The ideal candidate will also bring networking know‑how, such as VLANs, firewalls, routing and VPN troubleshooting, and hands‑on hardware experience like server rack installation or cable crimping. Prior work with security‑camera ecosystems (Milestone, Genetec, ONVIF/RTSP), computer‑vision or machine‑learning deployment on edge GPUs, and robotics platforms like ROS 2 and Rviz 2 are considered valuable extras. Laelaps offers a fast‑moving environment backed by visionary investors, a small founding team, and the chance to shape the future of autonomous security. What the role asks for: - Minimum 3 years software, robotics, embedded or integration experience. - Master's degree in relevant engineering or computer science field. - Proficient in Python and C++ for production code. - Docker experience for on‑prem or edge deployments. - Experience with sensors, device interfaces and communication protocols. - Strong emotional intelligence and direct customer interaction background. - Ability to stay calm during on‑site technical incidents. - Fluent German and solid English communication skills. - Willingness to travel across Switzerland and Europe for multi‑day visits. - Residence in Zurich or willingness to relocate there. - Citizenship of Switzerland, EU/EFTA, or NATO with security clearance eligibility. - Valid category B driver's licence. - Knowledge of VLANs, firewalls, routing, VPNs and network debugging. - Hands‑on hardware skills such as server rack installation and cable crimping. - Experience with security cameras, VMS platforms like Milestone or Genetec. - Computer vision or machine‑learning deployment on edge GPUs. - Robotics familiarity with ROS2 and Rviz2 integration.