Co-lead AI research focused on multimodal video-action foundation models for dexterous robotics. Responsibilities include model architecture and large-scale training, end-to-end data pipeline development, real-world robot evaluation, deployment, and mentoring AI researchers and engineers. The role requires deep generative modeling expertise, distributed PyTorch development, multi-GPU pretraining experience, and collaboration with hardware and robotics teams.
mimic robotics is a frontier physical AI company building the full stack of general-purpose dexterous manipulation. Founded in 2024 by ETH Zurich researchers, mimic pioneered Video-Action Models for robotics while also developing in-house dexterous hand hardware. Our growing team brings together world-class researchers working across our offices in Zurich and San Francisco.
We are hiring an AI Research Engineering Lead in Zurich. You will co-lead the AI team, focusing your efforts on pushing the frontier of multi-modal, video-action models (VAMs) targeting higher generalisation capabilities and improving deployment to real world industrial tasks.
Key Responsibilities
- Drive Training & Architecture: Lead research, architecture design, and training for large-scale, multi-task foundation models across pre- and post-training.
- Scale the Data Flywheel: Manage the end-to-end data pipeline—from raw human teleoperation data specification to model training, fine-tuning, and real-world robot evals.
- Lead & Mentor: Guide AI research engineers and scientists, setting high standards for ML engineering, experimental velocity, and empirical evaluation.
- Cross-Functional Deployment: Partner with hardware and robotics teams to align data collection efforts with benchmarking of trained models and stable real-world deployment.
Requirements & Qualifications
What You Bring:Research Background: PhD in CS/ML or equivalent PhD-level industry research experience (e.g., Senior/Staff AI Scientist at a frontier lab). We heavily prioritize generalist ML and deep pre-training over pure robotics or classical control/RL background.
Generative Modeling at Scale: 3+ years directly building and scaling generative architectures (diffusion, flow matching, autoregressive models, VLMs, or video models).
Distributed Engineering: 4+ years of hands-on PyTorch (or similar) development, including multi-GPU pre-training setups (FSDP, DeepSpeed, Megatron) and scaling law mechanics.
Technical Leadership: Proven track record of mentoring junior engineers, supervising PhD interns, or leading collaborative research projects.
Location: Based in or willing to relocate to Zurich for full-time, in-person work (San Francisco based candidates will also be considered).
Out of Scope: This is a deep model-building role. Candidates limited to classical control/RL without generative models, or application-level RAG/API wrappers, will not be considered.
Compensation & Benefits
- We offer a total compensation package including a competitive yearly base salary and a strong stock option package to make you part of our shared success.
- You will work with the founders from day one, shaping the company and participating in its success from its early stages.
- Surprise team trips, free gym and sports subscription, joint breakfasts and dinners and other exciting team activities.
You will have the opportunity to shape a robotics & AI company from the ground up. In flat hierarchies you will work directly with the founders and some of the best talent in the robotics space. At mimic, you are accepted for who you are. As part of our ongoing journey towards creating a diverse and inclusive environment we encourage everyone to apply and we are looking forward to you bringing along your knowledge, personal experiences, and fresh perspectives.
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