Postdoctoral Researcher or Associate Research Scientist – Robot Hardware (m/f/d)

Job ID 10140098 Location Zurich, Switzerland Business Walt Disney Imagineering Date posted Feb. 03, 2026

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Job Summary:

About The Role & Team

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher or an Associate Research Scientist – Robot Hardware to join our legged robotics research team. This role requires a unique blend of academic rigor and practical engineering excellence. You will not only design and build new types of robots but also use a scientific approach to evaluate them.

You will work in a fast-paced environment where specifications are often undefined. You must be comfortable "filling in the blanks," brainstorming with a cross-disciplinary team, and moving rapidly from concept to physical prototype.

Disney Research Imagineering in Zurich is a specialized group within the R&D arm of Walt Disney Imagineering. We are pushing the boundaries of expressive and believable robotic characters. We are a small, cross-disciplinary team that develops complete robotic characters in-house, spanning hardware, software, and controls. Our work ranges from early-stage research—leading to tech demos, patents, and scientific publications—to developing hardened prototypes deployed to Disney sites around the world.

You’ll join a team grounded in our Disney values — acting with Integrity, welcoming everyone through Inclusion, embracing boundless Creativity, working together through Collaboration and caring deeply for our Community. These values shape how we work and how we support one another every day.

This role will require you to be predominantly onsite in our Zurich office.

What You Will Do

Mechanical Design & Engineering

Design & Innovation: Lead the mechanical design of novel legged robots and character sub-systems.
Component Selection: Perform rigorous actuator sizing/selection, linkage design, and identification of suitable COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) components vs. custom hardware.
Sensor Integration: Collaborate with software teams to understand sensor requirements (e.g., cameras), source suitable hardware, and integrate them tightly into the robot chassis.
Documentation: Create detailed documentation and drawings to facilitate the handover of designs to internal and external productization partners.

Prototyping & Fabrication

Hands-on Building: Efficiently realize prototypes using in-house equipment (3D printing, laser cutting, molding) and manual assembly.
Vendor Management: Work with external vendors for advanced manufacturing (CNC, sheet metal, high-resolution 3D printing) to build experimental setups and robust robots.
Infrastructure: Design and build robot stands, fixtures, and test setups to support the lab environment.

Research & Experimentation

Scientific Evaluation: Devise and run experiments to critically evaluate new ideas, subsystems, and full robots.
Innovation: Investigate new techniques and technologies, such as novel actuation methods or soft robotics (elastomers).
Academic Contribution: Contribute to the writing of patents and academic scientific publications.

Collaboration & Support

Cross-Disciplinary Work: Partner closely with electrical, software, and creative teams to ensure holistic robot performance.
Field Support: Debug and repair robots in the field; travel may be required to support project needs.
Mentorship: Support ongoing research efforts within the team and assist with experimental hardware as required.

Required Qualifications

Education: PhD in Robotics or Mechanical.

Experience: 5+ years of relevant experience in hardware design and robotics.
CAD Proficiency: Expert-level user of CAD software (SolidWorks preferred).
Engineering Fundamentals: Strong practical understanding of GD&T, actuator sizing, and mechanism design.
Prototyping: Proven ability to take a project from concept to physical prototype, with hands-on workshop skills.
Research Mindset: Ability to work on complex problems with undefined specifications and critically evaluate new ideas.
Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills for cross-team collaboration and publication writing.

Preferred Qualifications

Legged Robotics: Specific experience designing and building legged platforms.
Materials: Experience with elastomers, molding, and soft robotics materials.
Electrical Skills: Practical EE skills (soldering, wiring, cable management) to produce clean, functional prototypes.
Interdisciplinary Knowledge: Basic knowledge of software or controls to facilitate better collaboration with software engineers.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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About Walt Disney Imagineering:

Founded in 1952 as WED Enterprises to design and build the world’s first theme park — Disneyland — Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) is where imagination and creativity combine with cutting-edge technology to create unforgettable experiences. WDI is the creative force that imagines, designs and builds all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions and cruise ships worldwide. Imagineering’s unique strength comes from its diverse global team of creative and technical professionals, who build on Disney’s legacy of storytelling to pioneer new forms of entertainment. The Imagineers who practice this unique blend of art and science work in more than 100 disciplines to shepherd an idea all the way from “blue sky” concept phase to opening day.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with TWDC (Switzerland) GmbH, which is part of a business we call Walt Disney Imagineering.

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