Production and Automation Lead

h3About Bota Systems /h3 pBota Systems AG is a Zürich-based ETH spin-off building high-precision 6-axis force-torque, torque and tactile sensors — a sensing platform for physical AI. Robot OEMs, integrators and humanoid companies are moving from pilots to volume, and our production must scale with them. /p pWe are hiring a Production Automation Lead to turn today's manual cell-based assembly into a scalable, cost-efficient production system across multiple sites. /p h3The role /h3 pYour number-one goal is to drive labor cost per unit down as volumes grow — through automation, standardized work instructions and strong production management. You own production cost, capacity and process quality end to end, are as comfortable on the shop floor as in a supplier negotiation, and thrive when priorities shift as the company grows. /p h3Key responsibilities /h3 h3Drive labor cost per unit down (top priority) /h3 ul liOwn labor hours per unit as the core production KPI; measure it, set targets and report on it monthly. /li liAutomate assembly, calibration and test steps where it reduces labor per unit (fixtures, test rigs, semi-automated and automated stations). /li liWrite and maintain standardized work instructions so any trained technician hits the same cycle time and quality. /li liRun time studies, balance the line and remove waste using lean methods. /li liManage and coach the technician team for output, cross-training and continuous improvement. /li /ul h3Drive material and purchasing cost down /h3 ul liOwn the bill-of-materials and unit-cost roadmap; set and hit annual cost-reduction targets. /li liConsolidate volumes and secure volume discounts as order quantities grow. /li liFeed design-for-manufacturing and design-for-cost recommendations back to RD. /li /ul h3Suppliers and procurement /h3 ul liNegotiate prices, lead times, MOQs and quality terms with component and machining suppliers. /li liQualify second sources for critical parts to reduce supply risk. /li liTrack supplier performance (cost, delivery, quality) and run regular reviews. /li /ul h3Resources and capacity /h3 ul liPlan production capacity (cells, equipment, people) against the sales forecast. /li liHire, onboard and lead production technicians; build training and work instructions. /li liPrepare the rollout of additional production cells and sites. /li /ul h3Hands-on process and automation /h3 ul liWork on the line to understand every assembly, calibration and test step first-hand. /li liIdentify bottlenecks and automate where it pays off (fixtures, test rigs, semi-automated stations). /li liKeep production data and work orders accurate in our ERP (Odoo). /li /ul h3Quality /h3 ul liAlign production processes with our quality standards and customer quality agreements. /li liDefine in-process and final inspection, track yield and scrap, and drive root-cause fixes. /li liSupport certifications and customer audits as we enter larger accounts. /li /ul h3What success looks like after 12 months /h3 ul liLabor hours per unit clearly reduced on our core sensor lines, with the gain coming from automation and standard work, not overtime. /li liStandardized work instructions in place for every production step, and new technicians productive within weeks. /li liFirst automated stations live, with stable or improved yield. /li liMeasurable material-cost reduction backed by renegotiated supplier terms and dual sourcing for critical parts. /li liA documented, repeatable production cell ready to be copied to new sites, staffed ahead of demand. /li /ul h3Who you are /h3 h3Must have /h3 ul liDegree in mechanical, mechatronics, production or industrial engineering, or equivalent experience. /li li5+ years in production, manufacturing engineering or operations for precision electromechanical products. /li liProven record of reducing labor cost per unit through automation, standard work and lean, plus supplier negotiation. /li liHands-on mindset: you build fixtures, troubleshoot assemblies and work alongside technicians. /li liExperience leading or coordinating a technical team. /li liFluent English; German is a strong plus. /li /ul h3Nice to have /h3 ul liBackground in sensors, robotics, metrology or medical devices. /li liExperience scaling from low-volume to series production, or setting up a new production site. /li liKnowledge of ISO 9001 / quality management systems, lean and DFM. /li liExperience with ERP (ideally Odoo) and CAD (SolidWorks). /li /ul h3What we offer and how to apply /h3 ul liA key role reporting to the CEO, with real ownership and direct impact on company growth. /li liThe chance to build a production system from the ground up in a fast-growing deep-tech company. /li liA small, ambitious team at the forefront of physical AI and robotics. /li liCompetitive salary and employee participation. /li /ul