Mechanical Engineer (Senior)

Rivr; Zürich; On-site; CHF 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

RIVR, part of Amazon, is hiring a senior hardware engineering lead to shape the next generation of robotic hardware for last-mile delivery. You will design electro-mechanical assemblies, build prototypes, and mentor a team of hardware engineers in a fast-moving robotics environment.

You will work closely with electronics engineers and product leaders to drive manufacturing-ready designs, documentation, and best practices, ensuring reliability, safety, and scalable production.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Engineering, Robotics, Automotive or Aerospace.
• At least five years of industry or research experience.
• Proficient in CAD software for mechanical design.
• Deep understanding of actuators, motors, materials, design for manufacturing, power transmission, mechanisms, and contemporary manufacturing technologies.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing teams, contractors, and relationships with OEMs/ODMs.
• Strong problem-solving skills, adept at debugging and optimizing hardware components.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop electro-mechanical assemblies, robotic payloads, and actuators for our robots.
• Build and test prototypes to evaluate functionality and performance.
• Work closely with electronics engineers to integrate PCBAs into mechanical structures.
• Perform rigorous testing and evaluations to verify the reliability, durability, and safety of robotic hardware.
• Create detailed hardware documentation, including specifications, assembly instructions, and testing protocols.
• Build, lead and mentor an exceptional team of hardware engineers.
• Provide expert guidance to product managers and executives for strategic decision-making.
• Create and maintain documentation, guidelines, and best practices to streamline knowledge sharing.
• Improve design standards and processes through active participation in design reviews.

Skills

Hardware leadership

CAD software

Actuators & motors

Mechanical design

Team management

Systems integration

Problem solving

Education

Master’s degree or higher

PhD experience applicable

Job description

RIVR, part of Amazon is a robotics company pioneering Physical AI through real-world doorstep delivery. Founded in 2024 as an ETH Zurich spin-off, RIVR developed wheeled-legged robots designed to operate in complex, unstructured environments such as stairs, gates, doors, and uneven urban terrain. We believe that achieving general physical intelligence requires solving real customer problems in the real world, where robots can learn from rich operational data at scale.

Following our acquisition by Amazon in March 2026, we are continuing this mission with greater reach and speed. By combining custom robot hardware, onboard autonomy, and cloud-based coordination, RIVR, part of Amazon is building the next generation of safe, reliable autonomous robots for last-mile delivery

What you’ll be doing

• Design and develop electro-mechanical assemblies, robotic payloads, and actuators for our robots.
• Build and test prototypes to evaluate functionality and performance.
• Work closely with electronics engineers to integrate printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) into mechanical structures.
• Perform rigorous testing and evaluations to verify the reliability, durability, and safety of robotic hardware.
• Create detailed hardware documentation, including specifications, assembly instructions, and testing protocols.
• Build, lead and mentor an exceptional team of hardware engineers.
• Provide expert guidance to product managers and executives for strategic decision-making.
• Create and maintain documentation, guidelines, and best practices to streamline knowledge sharing.
• Improve design standards and processes through active participation in design reviews.

What you must have

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field such as Engineering, Robotics, Automotive or Aerospace.
• A minimum of five years of industry or research experience, with PhD experience applicable.
• Proficient in CAD software for mechanical design.
• Deep understanding of actuators, motors, materials, design for manufacturing, power transmission, mechanisms, and contemporary manufacturing technologies.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing teams, contractors, and relationships with OEMs/ODMs.
• Strong problem-solving skills, adept at debugging and optimizing hardware components.

Get some bonus points

• PhD degree in Engineering, Robotics, Automotive, Aerospace or a similar discipline, or an equivalent amount of research experience.
• Familiarity with design for mass production.
• Experience in the robotic, automotive, aerospace, medical, and consumer electronics sector.
• Experience in managing a hardware team.
• Experience interfacing with control systems and integrating electronics.

RIVR, part of Amazon is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that values every perspective.

We believe the best work is done when collaborating and therefore require in-person presence in our office locations.