CTO & Co-founder (Robotics Automation)

Location: Remote / EU Stage: Early-stage startup Product: Robotics automation platform About the role We are looking for a CTO & Co-founder to co-build a startup focused on developing a cutting-edge automation platform using robotics technologies. Together with your co-founder (commercial profile), you will form the core leadership team. This is a highly hands-on founder role, not a corporate executive position. In the early days, you will be the primary builder - architecting the platform, writing code, and integrating technologies. You will play a key role in transforming a bold vision into a functional, scalable product while shaping the company's technical strategy from the ground up. Your mission is to bridge the gap between complex robotics tech and commercial viability, building a high-performing engineering culture as the company scales. Your responsibilities Co-managing the company with the commercial co-founder and aligning technical strategy with business goals, Hands-on development & prototyping: Architecting and building the MVP of the robotics automation platform, Leveraging Physical AI models to drive process automation, optimizing operational efficiency in real-world, hardware-driven environments, Defining the tech stack, software/hardware architecture, and product scalability roadmap, Monitoring robotics, AI, and automation trends to maintain a competitive technological edge, Recruiting, leading, and mentoring a small, agile team of top-tier engineers (including AI/ML specialists as the team grows), Translating customer feedback and market needs into robust technical requirements, Creating an internal culture focused on code quality, ownership, rapid iteration, and high execution standards, Setting up internal dev processes, CI/CD pipelines, and ensuring data security/compliance. Who we are looking for (must-have) At least 3+ years of leadership experience in startups or tech companies (e.g., Lead Engineer, Tech Lead, Architect, or CTO), At least 3+ years of hands-on experience working with robotics technologies (ROS/ROS2, simulation environments, computer vision, or control systems), Familiarity with Physical AI / Embodied AI, including the challenges of bridging the gap between digital models and physical hardware (e.g., sim-to-real transfer, sensor noise, or edge constraints), Strong software engineering background with proven experience in building scalable platforms, products, or deep-tech architecture from scratch, Entrepreneurial mindset - you understand that pragmatic execution and shipping fast beat perfect, over-engineered code in an early-stage setup, Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a knack for operating effectively in fast-paced, high-uncertainty environments, Fluent Polish and English (spoken and written). Nice to have Experience in full AI/ML development pipeline, including data collection and processing, architecture design, training, and fine-tuning, Experience in robotics automation platforms, IoT, cloud-edge architecture, or industrial automation, Experience working with hardware + software integration (mechatronics, embedded systems), Background in deep-tech, AI, or engineering-driven startups, Experience participating in fundraising processes and explaining technical concepts to non-technical investors. What we offer Co-founder role with real, equal influence over company direction and technical ownership, Opportunity to build and lead a robotics startup from scratch, Remuneration: at least PLN 17 000 net B2B + VAT, A package of shares in the co-created start-up, Support from an experienced startup studio and capital group, Access to industry experts and startup-building know-how, Fast decision-making and a high-impact environment. Red Sky is conducting this recruitment process. The cooperation concerns a newly established start-up. Recruitment process Interview with HR (~45 min) Tech Interview (~ 60 min.) Interview with the CEO (~30 min) Interview with the Investor (~45 min) Workshops (technical & product alignment) Agreeing on the terms of cooperation (remuneration )