Robotics Mechanical Engineer / Robotics Mechanical Engineeress

Join the Way of Water Project

Become a part of Way of Water, an exciting funded field-robotics project at ETH Zurich, under the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control (Research D'Andrea). This role is a project employee position focused on delivering engineering work throughout the project's duration. Please note that this is neither a PhD position nor an academic training track. We are dedicated to building autonomous surface robots designed to withstand challenging conditions, including rain, spray, and the realities of water transport, ensuring these robots can return for subsequent campaigns.

Position Overview

This role is tailored for an individual with a penchant for mechanical and hardware engineering who desires ownership of their work rather than following a rigid list of tasks. You will have the opportunity to shape the physical platform, including the structure, mechanisms, sealing, mounts, and the construction process. As designs progress from prototypes to full fleets, your role will broaden as insights gained from field lessons challenge and refine our assumptions. While specialization will give you a head start, a curious exploration across the engineering spectrum will aid your growth.

Compensation

We offer competitive compensation for this funded project role, commensurate with experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the physical robot, including structure, mechanisms, enclosures, mounts, and the entire process from concept to reproducible parts.
• Design with a focus on manufacturing, assembly, sealing, and serviceability, then validate designs with prototypes, fixtures, and outdoor tests.
• Collaborate with electronics and software teams on aspects such as space, connectors, thermal management, and the challenges posed by water and vibrations.
• Partner with workshops, suppliers, and technicians to transform drawings into reliable assemblies and address any field issues effectively.
• Document your work with clear models, revisions, and build notes to facilitate the transition for future team members.

Qualifications

• A background of 0–5 years of hands-on experience after your degree is desired; this includes internships, thesis projects, and paid project work.
• A degree in mechanical engineering, mechatronics, robotics, or equivalent practical engineering experience.
• Demonstrated ability to take hardware from concept to a tested object, including CAD judgment, material selection, and manufacturing choices.
• Strong hands-on capabilities, where building, assembling, debugging, and testing physical hardware is essential.
• Familiarity with electronics packaging and an understanding of software constraints for effective collaboration.
• Willingness to engage in outdoor and on-water testing, including at sites like Lake Zürich.
• An independent work style and documentation habits conducive to enabling a small team to scale.

Your Growth Opportunity

In this role, you will initially focus on mechanical ownership. As the project progresses, opportunities to branch into electromechanical integration, design for reliability, supplier management, fleet maintenance, and campaign logistics will naturally emerge. Collaboration with colleagues in control and electronics will enable you to design for the complete robot. Growth in this position means enhancing your robotics expertise and taking on broader ownership within a fixed-term project. There may also be opportunities to join a planned spin-off if mutual interests align following project completion.

Working with the Team

You will collaborate closely with accomplished entrepreneurs, renowned scientists, and artistic engineers—individuals who have built billion-dollar companies, sent hardware to the International Space Station, and created live performance art installations at the Venice Biennale.

Application Process

We invite you to apply online using the form below. Please ensure to include the following documents:

• Your CV.
• One or two examples of hardware you personally designed and delivered, detailing key decisions, testing processes, challenges you faced, and changes made. Drawings or photos are encouraged, but sanitized examples are acceptable.

To learn more about the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control, please visit our website.

Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.