Lead Software Engineer

Job description

Building the intelligence behind Solskin Are you a driven person who wants to make buildings come alive? We are Zurich Soft Robotics (ZSR), a Zurich-based startup developing Solskin – a climate-adaptive solar facade. Solskin is not just a PV system or a shading system; it’s an intelligent skin that uses weather and building data, occupant feedback, and AI algorithms to decide how the facade moves, so buildings stay comfortable, avoid overheating, and use energy as efficiently as possible. Solskin is already running on several buildings across Switzerland, with many more to follow. In this role, you own the software that makes that happen. You write the code that runs Solskin, keep it reliable in the field, and constantly improve it. You will also architect and lead our future sensor-to-data platform. Your focus is where software meets hardware, and the control and AI on top of it. You don't need to be a front-end specialist. What you will do This is a hands-on leadership position: you code every day. Own the full stack: You maintain and develop the whole software stack, from cloud and data management to user-facing applications, and from low-level embedded firmware to high-level AI controllers learning from users. You keep it reliable and keep making it better. Be the link between the teams: You build the software that runs on real buildings and support the hardware team. You also build the internal tools used by sales and the business team. Lead what comes next : With the CEO and CTO, you set the software direction and lead development of future products. Our stack: Backend: Python, FastAPI, PyTorch Frontend: React, TypeScript Hardware: C/C++, STM32 microcontrollers, Beckhoff PLCs Database: PostgreSQL (TimescaleDB) DevOps & Cloud: Linux, Docker, AWS, Grafana What we are looking for Required: Education : MSc or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, or similar. Python : This is a must. You write clean Python that runs in production, on real systems. Embedded & Hardware: Shipped C/C++ on microcontrollers running on physical hardware; comfortable working with sensors, actuators, and basic electronics. Applied AI & Control: Understanding of modern control and ML/RL methods, with hands-on PyTorch experience applied to physical or dynamic systems. Cloud & data : You are comfortable with PostgreSQL, Docker and AWS. Leadership att…