Embedded Systems Engineer (Firmware & Electronics)

Join Our Innovative Rehabilitation Engineering Team

At the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory (RELab) at ETH Zurich, we are pioneering the development of ax|ReCover, an advanced modular smartphone-based rehabilitation platform. Our mission is to transform everyday smartphones into intelligent therapy devices that assist individuals with upper-limb impairments resulting from neurological or traumatic injuries. We combine cutting-edge hardware, embedded systems, physiological and biomechanical sensing, and mobile applications to deliver personalized and engaging rehabilitation experiences.

Your Role

We are looking for an enthusiastic team member with a solid electronics background to contribute to our vision by leading the development of our embedded sensing platform. This opportunity is tied to a specific, Innosuisse-funded project spanning 16 months. You will collaborate closely with our research team, focusing on the embedded firmware and electronics crucial for our modular rehabilitation system.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop embedded firmware for the ax|ReCover rehabilitation platform.
• Design, implement, and validate reliable sensor acquisition pipelines.
• Integrate biomechanical and physiological sensors into embedded systems.
• Facilitate 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 electronics architecture decisions.
• Bring up and validate custom PCBs.
• Develop low-level drivers for sensors and communication peripherals.
• Collaborate on electronics integration and prototype development.
• Utilize laboratory equipment to diagnose hardware and firmware issues.
• Optimize power consumption and communication reliability.
• Support testing, validation, and design verification of electronics.
• Assist in establishing engineering processes and documentation for future regulatory development.

Qualifications

• MSc or BSc in Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
• Strong C/C++ programming skills and experience with embedded firmware development for ARM Cortex-M or comparable microcontrollers.
• Familiarity with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and communication protocols such as SPI, I²C, UART, along with experience in sensor integration.
• Experience designing and troubleshooting custom embedded electronics and PCBs using EDA software.
• Proficient in using laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes and multimeters for debugging purposes.
• Strong analytical skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment with a passion for digital health and neurorehabilitation.
• Strong communication skills in written and spoken English; proficiency in German is an advantage.

Additional Desired Experience

• Experience with Nordic nRF52/nRF54 or STM32 development, Zephyr RTOS or FreeRTOS, and low-power embedded design.
• Experience with battery-powered medical or wearable devices.
• Knowledge of medical device development regulations, including ISO 13485 and IEC 60601.
• Background in signal processing for physiological signals.

What We Offer

Join a unique and stimulating environment within a small, highly motivated team that offers significant ownership over product development and engineering culture. You will play a pivotal role in transforming research prototypes into manufacturable medical products that make a difference in patients' and clinicians' lives. With opportunities for close collaboration with clinicians, industry partners, and the broader RELab research community at ETH Zurich, you will enjoy competitive compensation in a thriving research ecosystem.