Robotics Engineer (Technical Liaison)

About the role

The EPFL Robotics Center is looking for a robotics engineer (80% activity rate) to act as the technical bridge between its laboratories and industrial partners. The role makes the center's laboratory capabilities visible and accessible, translates industrial needs into research opportunities, and combines hands-on engineering with clear communication with researchers, partners and visitors.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, adapt and improve prototypes and demonstrators, and maintain technical documentation, software configurations, setup procedures and operating instructions.
• Integrate demonstrators into event and visit setups, including installation, interfacing, calibration and troubleshooting.
• Build detailed knowledge of the participating labs' robotic platforms, software stacks, prototypes and experimental setups.
• Maintain an up-to-date technical map of lab capabilities, including technology readiness levels, demonstrators, equipment and key contacts among PhD students and postdocs.
• Clarify industry requests, check feasibility and identify the matching labs; write short technical pre-assessments and involve professors only when there is a clear research fit.
• Run live demonstrations during visits, workshops and events, and prepare audience-adapted technical materials with the lab teams.
• Help scope technical follow-up such as feasibility studies, tests and proposals, and coordinate next steps with labs, companies and EPFL services.

Required profile

• Master's or PhD in robotics or a closely related engineering field, with a demonstrated specialisation in robotics.
• Demonstrated hands-on engineering experience in robotics, including integration, programming, testing and troubleshooting of robotic systems.
• Ability to understand research contributions, discuss industrial requirements and assess the fit between technical challenges and lab expertise.
• Strong speaking and presentation skills, able to explain complex concepts to different audiences.
• Good organisational skills and ability to work autonomously within agreed priorities.
• Familiarity with Swiss and European research and innovation ecosystems is an asset.
• Excellent command of English, German and French.

Required skills

• Robotics software and hardware, including ROS/ROS 2, C++ or Python.
• Sensors, actuators, control systems and robotic perception.

Contract: 1 year, renewable, starting 01/01/2027, fixed-term (CDD).