Automation Engineer, Payerne

About the role Imagine stepping into a role where ideas don’t stay on paper they turn into machines that power real flight systems. As we scale our manufacturing capabilities, automation is at the heart of how we ensure quality, repeatability, and safety in the production of our propulsion and pyrotechnic components. We’re looking for an Automation Engineer who thrives at the intersection of R&D and production, someone who can take an idea from concept to a running machine on the shop floor.

What You'll Do

Develop, build, and support automation solutions spanning R&D through in-house production of rocket motor and pyrotechnic components

Design and develop machines and automated setups from the initial concept to the full integration of automation components (servo motors, cobots, PLCs, sensors, etc.)

Build and test prototypes, iterate based on results, and drive solutions toward production readiness

Support the maturation and transfer of R&D automation setups into reliable, repeatable manufacturing processes

Program and integrate collaborative robots (cobots)

Work closely with propulsion engineers, production teams, and safety specialists to ensure automation solutions meet performance, quality, and safety requirements

Maintain technical documentation for machines, control systems, and automation procedures

Contribute to continuous improvement of production processes through automation and digitalization

What You'll Need

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Automation, Mechatronics or Electrical Engineering, or a related field – or equivalent training as an automation technician with a follow‑on degree (HF/FH)

3–5 years of experience in automation engineering, ideally in a manufacturing or R&D environment

Experience with electrical work including control cabinets, wiring diagrams and safety

Hands‑on experience designing and building machines or automated setups, from concept through commissioning

Proficiency in PLC programming in structured text and industrial control systems (e.g. Codesys)

Proficiency in integrating automation components: servo drives, pneumatics, sensors, and control systems

Experience with cobot programming, ideally Universal Robots (UR) and Polyscope 5 or similar platforms

Nice to have: experience with industrial robot arms (e.g. KUKA, Fanuc, or ABB) is a further plus

Working knowledge of machine safety standards and relevant regulations– including CE machinery directive, SUVA requirements, and where applicable, ATEX or pyrotechnics‑specific safety frameworks

Structured, hands‑on working style with a strong sense of ownership from prototype to production

Good communication skills and comfort working in a cross‑functional, fast‑moving team

Understanding of mechanical design principles; experience with CAD tools (e.g. Siemens NX, or similar) is an advantage

Willingness to travel to different Destinus sites in Switzerland (max. 20%)

Who You Are You thrive in environments where things are still being built, not just maintained. Ambiguity does not slow you down it pushes you to experiment, iterate, and find solutions that actually work on the shop floor. You are hands‑on by nature, equally comfortable debugging a system, wiring a setup, or refining a process until it meets the highest standards of quality and safety.

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