{"id":1907223,"url":"https://alion.io/job/sereact-research-engineer-mfd","title":"Research Engineer (m/f/d)","company":{"id":51885,"name":"Sereact","domain":"sereact.ai","url":"https://alion.io/company/sereact","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":85,"open_postings":12,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.417,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":62,"computed_at":"2026-10-09T06:01:00Z"}},"role":"AI/ML","role_family":"AI/ML","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Zurich, Switzerland"],"countries":["CH"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":113000,"max_usd":255000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":19},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Cortex","optional":false},{"name":"Teleoperation","optional":false},{"name":"Vision-Language-Action","optional":false},{"name":"Embodied AI","optional":true},{"name":"Prometheus","optional":true}],"status":"closed","first_seen_at":"2026-10-05T12:02:26Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-05","last_verified_at":"2026-10-09T10:01:38Z","board_verified":false,"closed_at":"2026-10-09T10:01:38Z","days_open":3,"trust":{"level":"not_scored","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":3},"description":"Research Engineer, Manipulation Data & Teleoperation - Zurich\nThis role owns the data generation layer of Sereact's VLA stack: teleoperation systems and data collection infrastructure that feed Cortex, built from our Zurich research hub.\nAbout Sereact\nSereact is a Series B embodied-AI company. Cortex, our VLA model, is deployed in live warehouse robotic cells across the EU and US. Zurich is our newest research hub, focused on the manipulation and control problems that sit underneath Cortex.\nThe role\nThis is a Research Engineer position. It is scoped to the data generation layer of the VLA stack: teleoperation hardware and software, retargeting pipelines that map human demonstrations onto robot hands, and the data collection infrastructure that feeds Cortex. It requires building the systems that produce the data those models train on, and working closely with the training team on what that data needs to look like.\nWhat you'll do\nBuild and operate teleoperation systems for dexterous manipulation, including retargeting algorithms that map human hand and arm motion onto robot end-effectors\n\nDesign and maintain scalable, UMI-style data collection hardware and software that other engineers at Sereact rely on\n\nBenchmark control and retargeting approaches using rigorous, human-factors-informed methodology\n\nInstrument and support the physical robots deployed in the Zurich hub, including day-to-day work on the control stack\n\nWork with the model-training team to define what data they need and close the loop on data quality\n\nBuild tooling or infrastructure outside your immediate brief when it unblocks the wider team\n\nWhat you'll bring\nMSc (or equivalent, in progress) in robotics, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field, with a thesis or capstone project on manipulation, teleoperation, or retargeting\n\nHands-on experience building a data collection device or system for robot learning (UMI or a comparable system), not just operating one someone else built\n\nWorking knowledge of retargeting algorithms for mapping human input onto robot hands or end-effectors\n\n1 to 2 years of combined research, internship, or industry experience in robotics, mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline\n\nSoftware and systems engineering skills strong enough to build and maintain infrastructure other engineers rely on, not only research-grade prototypes\n\nComfortable working as an individual contributor in a small, still-forming team\n\nNice to have\nA conference submission on manipulation, teleoperation, or retargeting where the candidate is an author (an MSc thesis submitted to a venue like CoRL counts; supervising a student team whose own work was later published does not)\n\nTeaching or TA experience in a robotics course\n\nSome exposure to large-model training, even without an independent training record\n\nA concrete example of building something outside the formal role brief because the team needed it\n\nLocation:\nZurich Area, Switzerland:\nThis role is based in our Zurich office, offering a vibrant ecosystem for robotics and AI.\n\nWhat We Offer:\nFree meals at the workplace.\n\nFlexible working hours and the option to work from home when needed.\n\nDirect collaboration with founders and world-leading AI experts.\n\nAccess to large-scale compute clusters and proprietary robotic datasets.\n\nA key role in shaping the future of embodied AI.\n\nCompetitive compensation and a relocation package for the Zurich area","description_format":"text","description_chars":3434,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Flexible schedule"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["Robotics AI","Logistics & Warehouse Robotics","Robotic Software & Control Systems"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-05T13:07:53Z"},{"event":"close","at":"2026-10-09T10:01:38Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":null,"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/sereact-research-engineer-mfd","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/sereact-research-engineer-mfd.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-10T01:02:53Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":1695,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":3305,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-11T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":51885},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=51885"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fsereact-research-engineer-mfd"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fsereact-research-engineer-mfd"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fsereact-research-engineer-mfd"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/sereact-research-engineer-mfd\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fsereact-research-engineer-mfd"}]}