Embedded Systems Engineer / Embedded Systems Engineeress

Join Our Team at the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory (RELab)

At the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory (RELab) of ETH Zurich, we are pioneering ax|ReCover, a modular smartphone-based rehabilitation platform designed to transform everyday smartphones into intelligent therapy devices for individuals with upper-limb impairments resulting from neurological or traumatic injuries. Our innovative solution integrates modular hardware, embedded electronics, physiological and biomechanical sensing, and mobile software to enhance the accessibility, engagement, and personalization of rehabilitation. We are seeking a new team member who is passionate about developing products that can significantly improve the lives of others.

Position Overview

In the context of an Innosuisse-funded project, we are looking for an Embedded Systems Engineer with a strong electronics background to lead the development and enhancement of the embedded sensing platform for ax|ReCover. This position is funded for a duration of 16 months and is linked to specific work packages within the Innosuisse project. You will collaborate closely with our research team and be responsible for the embedded firmware and electronics that drive our modular rehabilitation system, with the aim of transforming research prototypes into a robust, manufacturable product.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop embedded firmware for the ax|ReCover modular rehabilitation platform.
• Design, implement, and validate reliable sensor acquisition pipelines.
• Integrate biomechanical and physiological sensors into embedded systems.
• Develop Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication between ax|ReCover and smartphones.
• Implement synchronized sensor acquisition and data streaming.
• Design and iterate electronic schematics and PCBs for new hardware revisions.
• Select electronic components and contribute to architecture decisions.
• Bring up and validate custom PCBs.
• Develop low-level drivers for sensors and communication peripherals.
• Work closely with the research team on electronics integration and prototype development.
• Utilize oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, and other laboratory equipment for diagnosing hardware and firmware issues.
• Optimize power consumption, communication reliability, and embedded system performance.
• Support electronics testing, validation, and design verification.
• Help establish engineering processes and documentation for future regulatory development.

Qualifications

• MSc or BSc in Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or a related discipline.
• Strong C/C++ programming skills.
• Experience developing and testing firmware for ARM Cortex-M or similar microcontrollers.
• Familiarity with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), SPI, I²C, UART, ADCs, DMA, interrupts, and timers.
• Experience designing and iterating custom embedded electronics, including schematic capture and PCB design using KiCad, Altium Designer, or similar EDA software.
• Experience debugging and bringing up custom PCBs.
• Strong electronics experience, including the ability to read and understand electronic schematics, digital and basic analog electronics, sensor integration, component selection, and power management fundamentals.
• Proficiency in using laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes and multimeters.
• Excellent debugging and troubleshooting skills across hardware and firmware.
• Willingness to collaborate with a small, multidisciplinary research team, alongside a strong interest in digital health and neurorehabilitation.
• An independent, proactive attitude with a strong desire to develop and test novel ideas.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with proficiency in both written and spoken English; German language skills are a plus.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with Nordic nRF52/nRF54 or STM32 development, Zephyr RTOS or FreeRTOS, NFC or USB, and low-power embedded design.
• Experience with battery-powered medical or wearable devices.
• Familiarity with medical device development and regulations, including ISO 13485 and IEC 60601.
• Experience with signal processing, particularly for physiological signals such as EDA or ECG.

What We Offer

• A unique and stimulating environment within a small, highly motivated team, with significant ownership over product and engineering culture.
• The opportunity to transition a research prototype into a tangible, manufacturable medical product used by patients and clinicians.
• Close collaboration with clinicians, industry partners, and the RELab research environment at ETH Zurich.
• A competitive salary.

We look forward to receiving your online application using the form below.

Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Further information about ax|ReCover and the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory (RELab) can be found on our website.

Please note that pre-selection is conducted by responsible recruiters, not by artificial intelligence.

For recruitment services, the GTC of ETH Zurich apply.