Senior Robotics Systems Architect (Technical Lead

As a leading European research centre, VITO brings together more than 1,300 employees to translate scientific insights into technological innovations, AI-driven solutions, and policy advice with real societal impact. Our mission is clear: to create a sustainable and promising future for our world. Join us in making this vision a reality!

The group for Construction Robotics and Innovative Building Envelopes (CRIB) at VITO is dedicated to advancing sustainable and industrialised construction. Our primary objective is to develop next-generation building envelope systems, supported by innovative design methodologies, robotics, and digital construction workflows.

We coordinate and contribute to high-impact Flemish and European R&I projects in industrial renovation and construction innovation, such as RENOMIZE, SOLMATE, oPEN Lab, and FRAIMwork.

Within these projects, we develop innovative prefabricated façade systems, automated construction processes, and robotics solutions for the built environment.

Our team is equipped with the THOREAQ lab infrastructure, which includes real-scale twin buildings for A-B testing of novel construction systems and components, a robotic workshop for system development and prototyping, and an outdoor construction lab for demonstration and implementation.

Through our active involvement in applied R&I projects and strategic collaborations with industrial partners, CRIB contributes to a more climate-resilient, affordable, and circular built environment.

To strengthen our rapidly growing robotics activities, we are looking for a Senior Robotics Systems Architect (Technical Lead) to join our interdisciplinary team.

Are you an experienced robotics engineer who can turn ambitious ideas into working prototypes that will shape the future of the construction sector? Do you combine technical depth with the ability to guide and inspire fellow engineers and innovation partners? Are you excited by autonomous mobile robots, AI-enabled robotics, advanced automation and construction innovation? Then join us at VITO and help shape the future of construction robotics.

As Senior Robotics Systems Architect (Technical Lead), you will play a central role in shaping the technical direction of CRIB's rapidly growing robotics activities. Working at the intersection of robotics, automation, AI, and construction engineering, you will lead the design and integration of next-generation robotic systems for industrialised construction and renovation.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role. You will define system architectures, guide the technical development of robotic platforms, mentor fellow robotics engineers, and actively contribute to the implementation of innovative robotic solutions. Together with an interdisciplinary team of robotics and construction experts, you will help transform ambitious research ideas into robust, scalable and impactful technologies.

You will help establish reusable robotics platforms and engineering practices that enable CRIB to efficiently develop successive generations of robotic solutions across multiple research and innovation projects.

• Lead the technical architecture and systems integration of robotic platforms for construction and industrial renovation

• Design and develop robotic solutions integrating mobile platforms, robotic manipulators, custom mechatronics, sensors, AI, and digital construction workflows

• Actively contribute to the implementation of robotic systems, including software (architecture) development, system integration, testing and validation

• Provide technical leadership to the robotics team, coaching colleagues and helping establish engineering best practices, reusable software and hardware building blocks, and common system architectures

• Collaborate closely with experts in mechatronics, controls, AI, sensing, digital construction and building technologies to develop integrated robotic solutions

• Contribute as senior technical expert to Flemish and European research and innovation projects across the CRIB portfolio

• Translate emerging robotics technologies into practical applications with industrial relevance.

• Support proposal development and help shape future robotics research directions together with the CRIB management team

• Further develop CRIB's robotics infrastructure, including the robotic workshop and outdoor construction robotics test environment

• Represent VITO in collaborations with leading research organisations, including Flanders Make and Build Wise, industrial partners and European research consortia

• Act as a technical ambassador for the team by sharing research results at conferences and robotics events, contributing to publications, and coaching junior researchers and PhD students where appropriate

• A Master's or PhD degree in Robotics, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or a related discipline

• At least 8 years of experience in robotics R&D, robotic system development or advanced automation,…