Embedded Systems Engineer (Senior)
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Job Location:
Zürich - Switzerland
Monthly Salary:
Not Disclosed
Posted on:
17 hours ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
RIVR is a Swiss robotics company pioneering Physical AI and robotic solutions to revolutionize last-mile delivery giving 1 human the power of 1000. Through the combination of artificial neural networks and innovative robot designs with wheels and legs RIVR aims to enhance efficiency sustainability and scalability in last-mile delivery. Founded as Swiss-Mile the company rebranded to RIVR in 2025 to better reflect its mission of driving the future of intelligent robotics.
Job Description
The Senior Embedded Systems Engineer is the technical backbone of our robotsthe person who turns physics into performance and silicon into intelligence. You will own the firmware that directly controls motion perception power safety and communication across both our rapidly evolving in-house prototypes and our production-bound robotic platforms. This is not a desk-only role: your code will run outdoors in rain dust cold vibration failure recovery and scale.
At RIVR we build embedded systems the only way that works in reality: hardware first theory second. No simulation test bench or spec sheet replaces being next to a robot in the field while it fails recovers and pushes its limits. Thats why our embedded engineers move fluidly between early experimentation and real-world deploymentbringing up new boards hacking fast on prototypes and hardening systems for long-term reliability.
Our embedded development philosophy balances speed and rigor. We move fast on prototypes to unlock new capabilities validate assumptions and de-risk bold design choices but we apply production-grade thinking from day one. Architecture before implementation tight hardwaresoftware co-design deterministic behavior over clever shortcuts and rapid iteration loops validated on real robots are core to how we work. Firmware is never a handoffit is a living system continuously shaped by mechanical constraints electrical realities autonomy requirements manufacturing discipline and operational feedback.
And above all we design for both exploration and scale: the freedom to experiment on in-house robots combined with the responsibility to deliver systems that are robust safe manufacturable securely updateable and cost-efficient at fleet scale. Our goal is not just to build impressive machines in the lab but to turn breakthrough prototypes into reliable robots operating every day in real urban environments.
What youll be doing
- Own the architecture development and optimization of low-level C/C firmware for microprocessors and microcontrollers across our robotic platforms.
- Lead hardware bring-up and validation for new PCBAs sensors compute units and communication interfaces.
- Design and implement robust drivers and firmware for peripherals such as cameras motors power systems and safety-critical components.
- Drive system-level debugging across hardwaresoftware boundaries using advanced tools (oscilloscopes logic analyzers JTAG GDB).
- Define and implement testing strategies for embedded firmware including HIL testing automated regression testing and fault injection.
- Collaborate closely with electrical mechanical autonomy and cloud teams to define interfaces and system requirements.
- Contribute to architectural decisions for compute networking safety and system reliability.
- Establish coding standards documentation practices and long-term maintainability of the embedded codebase.
- Review guide and mentor junior and mid-level engineers through code reviews design discussions and technical leadership.
- Act as a key contributor during field deployments diagnostics and performance optimization on real robots.
What you must have
- Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Engineering Electrical Engineering Robotics Computer Science or a related field.
- 6 years of professional experience in embedded systems development in robotics automotive aerospace industrial automation or similar domains.
- Strong experience with ARM-based MCUs/MPUs.
- Expert-level C/C for embedded systems with deep understanding of real-time behavior memory management and performance optimization.
- Deep understanding of communication interfaces and protocols: UART SPI I2C CAN Ethernet.
- Proven ability to read schematics debug at the board level and reason across hardwaresoftware interactions.
- Extensive hands-on experience with embedded debugging tools (logic analyzers oscilloscopes JTAG GDB).
- Experience working on systems deployed in production or field environments.
- Strong problem-solving skills ownership mentality and the ability to operate independently in a fast-moving startup environment.
Get some bonus points
- Experience with ROS/ROS2 and robotic middleware.
- Experience with edge computing GPUs (Jetson)
- Experience with functional safety ISO 26262 IEC 61508 or safety-critical systems.
- Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and embedded Linux.
- Experience with bootloaders BSPs and secure firmware updates.
- Contributions to robotics electronics or open-source embedded projects.
- Prior experience leading or mentoring engineers in embedded teams.
RIVR is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that values every perspective. If youre passionate about driving innovation in robotics and creating meaningful impact we encourage you to apply and bring your unique self to our team.
We believe the best work is done when collaborating and therefore require in-person presence in our office locations.
Required Experience:
IC
Key Skills
- Asset
- Commerce
- ABAP
- Apps
- Elevator Maintenance
- Garment
About Company
Discover RIVR's innovative Physical AI solutions revolutionizing last-mile delivery. Our autonomous robots ensure faster, safer, and sustainable deliveries of parcels, groceries, and meals
