AI Software Developer Jobs in Switzerland

Where AI developer jobs are concentrated in Switzerland

AI roles are clustered around academic hubs and innovation centers. Zurich and Geneva lead the market thanks to ETH Zurich, major banks, and technology firms, while Lausanne, Basel and Bern host strong medtech, life sciences and research ecosystems. Startups in Zurich and Lausanne often hire for applied machine learning and MLOps, while larger companies in Zurich and Basel recruit for scalable production systems. Public research labs, corporate R&D centers, and incubators offer a mix of research and product-focused positions.

Skills and technologies Swiss employers look for

Swiss companies seek engineers with solid software engineering foundations plus practical ML skills. Key technologies include Python, PyTorch or TensorFlow, model optimization, data pipelines, SQL, containerization with Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud platforms like AWS, Azure or GCP. Experience in MLOps, model deployment, monitoring, and reproducible workflows is highly valued. Strong algorithmic thinking, production-quality code, testing and CI/CD abilities distinguish candidates, and advanced degrees help for research roles but are not mandatory for applied positions.

Salary, visas, hiring process, and tips to land a role

Salaries vary by experience and location. Typical ranges are roughly 90k to 120k CHF for junior AI developers, 120k to 150k CHF for mid-level roles, and 150k to 200k+ CHF for senior and specialized positions, with Zurich usually at the upper end. Non-EU candidates need employer sponsorship and a work permit, so strong, in-demand skills improve chances. The hiring process often combines coding tests, ML case studies and system design interviews. To stand out, build a portfolio of projects, contribute to open-source, publish reproducible notebooks, network at meetups and conferences, and tailor your CV to Swiss expectations. Learning German or French helps in some regions but many AI teams operate in English.