Chief Operating Officer (COO)

VAULTED AG is a Swiss deep-tech scale-up born out of research at ETH Zurich and the EMPA innovation ecosystem. We combine world-class engineering computational design digital fabrication and advanced manufacturing to rethink how buildings are designed and delivered at a time when AI automation and data-driven design are transforming the industry.

Our core technology is the Rippmann Floor System (RFS) a lightweight prefabricated structural floor system that reduces concrete use by up to 70% steel use by up to 90% and embodied carbon by up to 75% compared with conventional concrete slabs. After years of research and technology development VAULTED is entering a major growth phase across Switzerland Belgium the UK and the US.

Location: Dübendorf ZH Switzerland Start date: Q% Reporting to the CEO

We are hiring a Chief Operating Officer to build the operational engine that turns confirmed projects into reliable profitable and scalable delivery. This is a senior leadership role for someone who combines deep project and construction industry understanding with strong operational and commercial judgement but also someone who is very hands-on and enjoys setting up the systems and processes behind our operations.

The COO takes ownership once a project is won and oversees project delivery project management supplier and prefabrication partnerships operational contracting and project economics. The role ensures that scope timelines quality risks resources costs and margins are transparent and actively managed while giving project teams the structure and support they need to deliver.

A core mandate is to make VAULTED better with every project: translate project learnings into stronger processes supplier setups handovers delivery standards and feedback to engineering and R&D. The COO builds the operational capabilities required to scale across Switzerland Belgium the UK and the US without adding unnecessary complexity. This is a 100% role.

• Operational leadership & project delivery: Build and lead the operating model required to deliver VAULTED projects reliably and efficiently. Oversee the project management function set clear execution standards and support escalation and decision-making on active projects.
• Project economics & controlling: Establish disciplined project controlling across budgets costs forecasts changes and margins ensuring deviations and commercial implications are visible early and actively addressed.
• Supplier production & prefabrication ecosystem: Identify evaluate negotiate and manage production partners suppliers and prefabricators across relevant markets ensuring quality capacity cost competitiveness and delivery reliability.
• Contracting procurement & operational risk: Shape supplier and operational contracts procurement approaches and partnership models that improve delivery certainty manage risk protect margins and maintain strategic flexibility.
• Cross-functional leadership & resources: Connect project management engineering design R&D commercial teams and external partners. Create clarity on priorities responsibilities capacity and trade-offs and ensure smooth handovers from sales into execution.
• Continuous improvement & international scaling: Turn project learnings into better processes standards supplier setups and execution methods while building operational readiness for Switzerland Belgium the UK the US and future markets.

• Typically 8 years of relevant experience in project delivery operations construction architecture or prefabrication preferably with an engineering background.
• Proven responsibility for complex multi-stakeholder projects or project portfolios with the ability to oversee execution while staying close enough to intervene when needed.
• Strong practical understanding of how construction or engineered products move from design and procurement through production coordination and delivery.
• Strong commercial and financial discipline including project budgets cost drivers forecasting margins change management and operational risk.
• Experience negotiating and managing suppliers production partners contracts and long-term operational relationships.
• Strong leadership skills with high empathy and high standards: able to build trust set clear expectations challenge constructively make decisions and hold teams and partners to commitments.
• Strategic and hands-on working style: able to build scalable systems and processes while staying pragmatic close to project realities and comfortable solving difficult execution issues.
• Fluency in English is required; German is a strong advantage. Based in Zurich/Dübendorf or willing to work primarily from Dübendorf with occasional national and international travel to project production and construction sites.

Were looking forward to you application!