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
Job Description
We are looking for a Senior Embedded Systems Engineer to lead the design and delivery of firmware that powers our robotic platforms. You will own the architecture and implementation of our low-level embedded systems, while guiding junior engineers and raising the technical quality of the team through code reviews, design discussions, and hands-on leadership.
You will also set priorities, drive the embedded roadmap, and ensure reliable execution across multiple programs. Directly shape robot performance, safety, and scalability in real-world environments.
What you’ll be doing
Own the architecture, development, and optimization of low-level C/C++ firmware across our robotic platforms
Drive the embedded development roadmap, aligning priorities, distributing work, and ensuring timely delivery across the team
Design and implement firmware for motion control, sensing, power systems, communication, and safety-critical components
Establish scalable and maintainable firmware architectures with a strong focus on reliability, performance, and production readiness
Define and implement robust testing strategies (e.g. HIL, automated regression, fault injection)
Collaborate closely with electrical, mechanical, autonomy, and cloud teams to define system interfaces and requirements
Lead and mentor engineers through code reviews, design discussions, and hands-on technical leadership
Support the transition from prototype to production, ensuring systems are robust, safe, and manufacturable
What you must have
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field
6+ years of experience in embedded systems development (robotics, automotive, aerospace, or similar)
Solid experience with RTOS and embedded Linux, with Zephyr RTOS strongly preferred
Proven ability to mentor and guide engineers through code reviews, design discussions, and technical leadership
Expert-level C/C++ for embedded systems, with strong understanding of real-time behavior and system constraints
Strong experience with ARM-based MCUs/MPUs
Proven experience building and deploying embedded systems in real-world or production environments
Strong system-level thinking across hardware–software interactions
Ownership mindset with the ability to operate autonomously and drive outcomes in a fast-moving environment
Get some bonus points
Experience with ROS/ROS2 or robotic middleware
Experience with functional safety or safety-critical systems (e.g. ISO 26262, IEC 61508)
Experience with bootloaders, BSPs, and secure firmware updates
Contributions to embedded or robotics open-source projects
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.
