Production and Automation Lead

About the role

About Bota Systems Bota 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. We are hiring a Production & Automation Lead to turn today's manual cell-based assembly into a scalable, cost-efficient production system across multiple sites. The role Your 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. Key responsibilities Drive labor cost per unit down (top priority) • Own labor hours per unit as the core production KPI; measure it, set targets and report on it monthly. • Automate assembly, calibration and test steps where it reduces labor per unit (fixtures, test rigs, semi-automated and automated stations). • Write and maintain standardized work instructions so any trained technician hits the same cycle time and quality. • Run time studies, balance the line and remove waste using lean methods. • Manage and coach the technician team for output, cross-training and continuous improvement. Drive material and purchasing cost down • Own the bill-of-materials and unit-cost roadmap; set and hit annual cost-reduction targets. • Consolidate volumes and secure volume discounts as order quantities grow. • Feed design-for-manufacturing and design-for-cost recommendations back to R&D. Suppliers and procurement • Negotiate prices, lead times, MOQs and quality terms with component and machining suppliers. • Qualify second sources for critical parts to reduce supply risk. • Track supplier performance (cost, delivery, quality) and run regular reviews. Resources and capacity • Plan production capacity (cells, equipment, people) against the sales forecast. • Hire, onboard and lead production technicians; build training and work instructions. • Prepare the rollout of additional production cells and sites. Hands-on process and automation • Work on the line to understand every assembly, calibration and test step first-hand. • Identify bottlenecks and automate where it pays off (fixtures, test rigs, semi-automated stations). • Keep production data and work orders accurate in our ERP (Odoo). Quality • Align production processes with our quality standards and customer quality agreements. • Define in-process and final inspection, track yield and scrap, and drive root-cause fixes. • Support certifications and customer audits as we enter larger accounts. What success looks like after 12 months • Labor hours per unit clearly reduced on our core sensor lines, with the gain coming from automation and standard work, not overtime. • Standardized work instructions in place for every production step, and new technicians productive within weeks. • First automated stations live, with stable or improved yield. • Measurable material-cost reduction backed by renegotiated supplier terms and dual sourcing for critical parts. • A documented, repeatable production cell ready to be copied to new sites, staffed ahead of demand. Who you are Must have • Degree in mechanical, mechatronics, production or industrial engineering, or equivalent experience. • 5+ years in production, manufacturing engineering or operations for precision electromechanical products. • Proven record of reducing labor cost per unit through automation, standard work and lean, plus supplier negotiation. • Hands-on mindset: you build fixtures, troubleshoot assemblies and work alongside technicians. • Experience leading or coordinating a technical team. • Fluent English; German is a strong plus. Nice to have • Background in sensors, robotics, metrology or medical devices. • Experience scaling from low-volume to series production, or setting up a new production site. • Knowledge of ISO 9001 / quality management systems, lean and DFM. • Experience with ERP (ideally Odoo) and CAD (SolidWorks). What we offer and how to apply • A key role reporting to the CEO, with real ownership and direct impact on company growth. • The chance to build a production system from the ground up in a fast-growing deep-tech company. • A small, ambitious team at the forefront of physical AI and robotics. • Competitive salary and employee participation.