--- title: 'SLAM / Computer Vision Intern at RIVR' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/slam-computer-vision-intern-rivr-zurich-1qqvkkfmg6n7' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-19' --- # SLAM / Computer Vision Intern at RIVR - **Company:** RIVR - **Location:** Zurich, Switzerland - **Employment:** internship - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-10-19 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-19 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/rivr/452f0a92-5704-4f65-bafa-021d40c01238 ## 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, part of Amazon 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. Important Notice: For this position, we can unfortunately only accept applications from citizens of Schengen Area countries. This restriction does not apply to ETHZ and EPFL students who are required to complete compulsory internships as part of their studies. ## What you'll be doing - Work closely with senior engineers to integrate SLAM modules with hardware components and contribute ideas to enhance system robustness and accuracy. - Support the team in benchmarking, evaluating, and developing novel state-of-the-art localization and mapping algorithms for robotic applications. - Engage in continuous learning and gain exposure to recent developments from the SLAM and computer vision literature. ## What you should have - At least a BSc in Computer Science, Robotics, Engineering, or equivalent discipline. - Previous coursework or projects related to computer vision, SLAM, or 3D geometry. - Experience with C++ and / or Python. - Eagerness to learn and contribute in a team environment. - Strong problem-solving and analytical skills. Get some bonus points - Proven experience implementing or extending SLAM systems. - Exposure to state of the art dense visual SLAM or multi-view stereo approaches. - Familiarity with sensor fusion techniques involving cameras, LiDAR, or IMUs. - Knowledge of relevant frameworks or libraries such as OpenCV, GTSAM, Ceres, Eigen, or similar. - Experience with ROS/ROS 2 and real-world robotic data collection. RIVR, part of Amazon is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that values every perspective. If you’re 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. ## 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) ## Other roles at RIVR - [Operations Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/operations-manager-rivr-zurich-5y45pqfa44n8) — Zurich, Switzerland - [Robotics Wireless & Network Engineer Intern](https://feeny.ai/job/robotics-wireless-network-engineer-intern-rivr-zurich-m7c7xt7ygtym) — Zurich, Switzerland - [Robotic Support Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/robotic-support-engineer-rivr-shanghai-v0ktp6pepps8) — Shanghai, China - [Field Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/field-technician-rivr-zurich-mxz9bqnfxkd1) — Zurich, Switzerland - [Senior Mechanical Engineer – Power Electronics Packaging](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-power-electronics-packaging-rivr-zurich-gj6pw40dteg9) — Zurich, Switzerland - [Hardware integration Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/hardware-integration-engineer-rivr-shanghai-xz2anwhe3xkz) — Shanghai, China - [Senior Electronics Engineer – Functional Safety](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-electronics-engineer-functional-safety-rivr-zurich-6559gbs405j8) — Zurich, Switzerland - [Senior Electronics Engineer – Carrier Board](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-electronics-engineer-carrier-board-rivr-zurich-bfras8f1qsy6) — Zurich, Switzerland - [Tech Lead – Testing Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/tech-lead-testing-engineer-rivr-zurich-gwq4arwcqpby) — Zurich, Switzerland - [Procurement Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/procurement-engineer-rivr-zurich-hxs2jrkes2hg) — Zurich, Switzerland