You want to help build Europe’s resilience.

You want to protect people and critical infrastructure – ultimately saving the lives

of thousands.

You want to work at the frontier of high-performance autonomous systems.

Join us at CDDS to bring next-generation control, guidance, and state-estimation

algorithms into high-speed kinetic interceptor drones.

Tasks

Core Responsibilities:

* Designing and validating low-latency guidance and control strategies in

Python based simulation environments before porting them to

high-performance C++/Rust

* Developing multi-sensor fusion algorithms for state estimation, including

uncertainty modelling and robust gating under latency, asynchronous

updates, and drift

* Investigating MPC and reinforcement-learning-based strategies for

trajectory generation and interception point control

* Modelling aerodynamic effects and motor dynamics

* Maintaining simulation pipelines (Docker, GPU-accelerated dev-containers)

* Adapting and extending the PX4 autopilot stack for custom interceptor

behaviour

* Running HIL tests and profiling system performance

* Conducting real world flight experiments, analysing data, and evaluating

performance and failure modes

Requirements

Your Profile

We are looking for people who thrive on mathematical depth, rapid iteration, and

hands-on flight testing. You take full ownership of your subsystem — from

modelling to real-world validation.

Required

* PhD or MSc in Robotics, Control Engineering, Computer Science or similar

field with strong academic record (ETH Zürich or equivalent preferred)

* Strong analytical mindset with the ability to derive, evaluate, and validate

models

* Deep understanding of:

o Classical & optimal control

o Kalman filtering and State Estimation

o Linear algebra (Rotations and transformations in SE(3))

* Proficiency in Python and C++

* Comfortable in fast-paced, high-ownership environments

Nice-to-Have

* Experience with:

o ROS2, PX4, and real-time robotics software

o MPC, RL, trajectory optimization

o Computer vision and Event-cameras

o Fast-moving object interception / high-dynamics control

o Simulation Frameworks like Gazebo or Isaac Sim

* Background in drone flight testing or competitive robotics

Benefits

Why CDDS

* Direct impact on a mission-critical technology shaping Europe’s security

landscape

* Fast-moving startup environment with high ownership

* Work with a highly technical, ambitious, and hands-on team

* Real-world testing, deployments, and customer demonstrations

* Attractive compensation

Details

* Location: Schlieren (Zürich), on-site

* Start date: March or tbd

* Environment: Rapidly growing deep-tech startup, high-impact mission

We are looking for an exceptional Robotics & Control Engineer to drive the

control stack of our interceptor drone platform. You will architect and implement

state-estimation and control algorithms that directly determine successful target

interception, taking them from Python-based simulation to robust, deployable C+

+/Rust systems.

You will work closely with perception, embedded, simulation, and hardware

experts — ensuring your algorithms translate directly into field performance.