---
title: 'Hardware integration Engineer at RIVR'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/hardware-integration-engineer-rivr-shanghai-xz2anwhe3xkz'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-07'
---

# Hardware integration Engineer at RIVR

- **Company:** RIVR
- **Location:** Shanghai, China
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-07
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/rivr/fc69d345-b291-4b06-89af-872b50576320

## 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

Core Responsibilities (Mechanical Focus):

- Assembly & Shop-Floor Support: Provide on-site technical support for production and assembly lines. Clarify mechanical drawings, geometric tolerances, torque specs, and assembly sequences to resolve real-time build issues.
- Failure Analysis & Design Iteration: Lead root-cause analysis for mechanical failures, structural defects, and assembly bottlenecks during build/testing phases; drive rapid design revisions and process improvements.
- Supplier Technical Alignment & ECNs: Coordinate directly with component suppliers and contract manufacturers to clarify drawing requirements, resolve manufacturing feasibility issues, and issue engineering change notices (ECNs).

Cross-Functional & Integrated Responsibilities (Support):

- Test Rig & Hardware Alignment: Assist in early-stage mechanical setup and structural alignment for test rigs and testing fixtures.
- Peripheral Mounting & Wire Routing: Support the structural mounting and wire harness routing setup for sensors and hardware components (e.g., LiDAR, cameras, RC units).

## What you must have

- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automotive, Aerospace, or a related field.
- Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience in manufacturing, prototyping, or small-batch production of hardware systems.
- Strong CAD proficiency and deep expertise in interpreting, modifying, and rapidly releasing mechanical engineer in drawings (GD&T, tolerance analysis).
- Proven experience in technical communication with suppliers, clarifying manufacturing requirements, and managing engineering change processes.
- Practical knowledge in assembly support, shop-floor troubleshooting, and component localization.

Get some bonus points

- Master’s degree or higher in Engineering, Mechatronics, or Robotics.
- Hands-on experience with test bench/rig setup and fixture design for electromechanical systems.
- Experience transitioning R&D prototypes into small-batch setups.
- Practical exposure to evaluating and integrating electronic peripherals (e.g., LiDAR, cameras, RC controllers, custom cable harnesses).
- Solid grasp of electrical engineering (EE) fundamentals, including component working principles and hands-on electrical troubleshooting skills

## About RIVR

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: RIVR builds autonomous wheeled-legged robots powered by Physical AI to automate doorstep delivery, from the street to the door.
- **Entity Type**: Private (acquired by Amazon in March 2026; previously venture-backed with $29M total funding)
- **Headquarters**: Zurich, Switzerland
- **Founded**: 2023 (originally as Swiss-Mile, rebranded to RIVR)
- **Founders**: Marko Bjelonic (CEO), Lorenz Wellhausen (CTO Software), Giorgio Valsecchi (CTO Hardware), Alexander Reske (COO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Robotics Engineering / Physical AI for last-mile delivery
- **Target customers**: B2B – logistics providers, e‑commerce companies, grocery delivery services (e.g., Swiss Post, Migros Online)
- **Mission**: “Pioneering Physical AI to revolutionize doorstep delivery” – combining neural networks with wheeled‑leg robots to master the last 100 yards of delivery.

## Products & Services
- **RIVR ONE**: A wheeled‑legged delivery robot that climbs stairs, steps over curbs, opens gates, and carries multiple parcels/groceries securely. Equipped with cameras, LiDAR, and a robotic arm for dexterous manipulation.
- **Physical AI Platform**: Reinforcement learning (simulated data + parallel GPU training) and supervised/imitation learning (real‑world data) that enable autonomous navigation and manipulation. A data flywheel collects teleoperation feedback to continuously improve autonomy.
- **Global Operations Software**: Cloud infrastructure for fleet management, including 24/7 remote assistance and API integration for custom deployments.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (acquired by Amazon; prior valuation unknown)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised – $29M (Seed round led by Bezos Expeditions and HSG, plus grants from Innosuisse)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Bezos Expeditions, HSG, Innosuisse; pilot partners include Swiss Post and Migros Online
- **Growth Signals**: Acquired by Amazon in March 2026; already has customers requiring “tens of thousands of robots”; workforce of 48 employees with 12.2% monthly headcount growth; 19 active job postings as of mid‑2026

## Competitive Advantages
- **Wheeled‑leg design** offers 5× battery life and speed, and 10× coverage of traditional legged robots, while still climbing stairs and navigating uneven terrain.
- **Data flywheel**: Each deployed robot generates real‑world data that feeds supervised and imitation learning, creating a self‑reinforcing improvement loop. RIVR claims it will generate more daily data than YouTube within four years.
- **Full‑stack approach**: Proprietary learning algorithms, simulation environments, and hardware co‑design allow tight integration between AI and embodiment.
- **Amazon backing**: Post‑acquisition, RIVR gains access to Amazon’s logistics network, resources, and scale, accelerating deployment.

## Strategic Focus
- **General Physical AI**: RIVR’s long‑term vision is to build a general‑purpose Physical AI that can handle diverse real‑world tasks, using doorstep delivery as the initial catalyst.
- **Scaling deployment**: Moving from pilot (Swiss Post/Migros) to mass production and global rollout, leveraging Amazon’s infrastructure.
- **Talent acquisition**: Actively hiring senior AI engineers (reinforcement learning, imitation learning, VLA foundation models), hardware engineers, and robotics software specialists to grow the technical team.

## Why Work Here
- **Cutting‑edge technology**: Work on Physical AI, reinforcement learning, and advanced robotics at the intersection of software and hardware.
- **Zurich location**: Office and development lab in the heart of Zürich; relocation bonus offered.
- **Compensation & perks**: Competitive, transparent salary; Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP); annual performance‑based bonus; five weeks of vacation.
- **Team & culture**: Work alongside top engineers from ETH Zurich, Amazon, Meta, and leading robotics labs. Flat hierarchy with a strong technical focus.
- **Remote/hybrid policy**: On‑site presence expected (all current job postings are “On‑site – Full”); the robotics lab requires physical presence.
- **Growth opportunity**: Being part of an Amazon‑owned company provides stability and resources while still operating with a startup‑like engineering intensity.

## Sources
1. [rivr.ai/careers](https://www.rivr.ai/careers)
2. [rivr.ai/about-rivr](https://www.rivr.ai/about-rivr)
3. [linkedin.com/company/rivr-technologies](https://linkedin.com/company/rivr-technologies)
4. [jobs.lever.co/rivr](https://jobs.lever.co/rivr)
5. [rivr.ai/technology](https://www.rivr.ai/technology)

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