Founding AI / Systems Engineer (m/f/d)

Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Employment type: Permanent, full-time (100%)
Start date: As soon as possible
Management responsibility: No
Working model: Primarily in person in Zurich (around 2 days/week), with flexibility for remote work where appropriate
Stage: Early-stage startup / Founding Engineering Team

About Our Client

Our client is an early-stage industrial technology startup developing an AI-driven software platform for industrial automation.

The company connects modern AI systems with traditional industrial hardware, enabling AI agents to diagnose issues and safely support interventions on physical machinery.

With a working MVP and first paying customers, the company is now looking for its first engineering hire to take ownership of the technical roadmap and architecture.

The Role

The Founding AI / Systems Engineer will work across AI, backend systems, industrial automation and physical hardware.

Key responsibilities include:

• Building AI integrations, introspection pipelines and MCP servers using TypeScript / Python and frameworks such as DeepSeek or LangChain
  

• Developing core systems and deterministic safety mechanisms using C++, Go, Rust or Zig
  

• Designing secure API boundaries, process isolation and fail-safe mechanisms between AI logic and physical machinery
  

• Working with industrial protocols such as OPC UA, Modbus and EtherCAT
  

• Debugging physical hardware and supporting customer deployments
  

• Taking significant ownership of the technical architecture and roadmap
  

The Profile

The ideal candidate is a “Polyglot Systems Hacker” — neither a pure AI researcher nor a traditional embedded engineer.

Essential:

• Strong TypeScript or Python skills plus experience with a systems language such as C++, Rust, Go or Zig
  

• Previous experience working with industrial data, ideally OPC UA
  

• Conceptual understanding of PLC programming
  

• Solid Linux and systems fundamentals
  

• Comfortable working directly with physical hardware and industrial networks
  

• Strong understanding of API boundaries, process isolation and safety mechanisms
  

• Pragmatic mindset with the ability to prototype quickly and operate in an environment of high uncertainty
  

Startup experience is not required. The key is the ability to take ownership, make architectural decisions independently and turn real-world problems into practical solutions.

What Makes the Role Interesting

The position combines approximately:

• 33% AI integrations — TypeScript/Python, MCP, AI-agent frameworks
  

• 33% Core Systems — C++/Go/Rust/Zig, SDK development and deterministic safety mechanisms
  

• 33% Hardware & Customer Deployment — industrial networks, physical hardware and troubleshooting
  

The role offers genuine technical ownership and the opportunity to shape the architecture of a new industrial software platform from an early stage.

First 90 Days

A key initial objective is to develop a proof of concept in which an AI agent can diagnose a real industrial hardware issue and safely support a modification to a running PLC system, subject to deterministic safety controls.

Package

• Competitive salary
  

• Generous equity package
  

• High degree of technical autonomy
  

• Direct customer exposure
  

• Opportunity to shape the technical architecture and future engineering team
  

• Zurich-based with flexibility for remote work where appropriate
  

Interested?

Candidates combining AI/backend engineering, systems programming and industrial automation experience are invited to apply.

Let's talk!