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.

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

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

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.