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Industrial Design Intern

RIVR
Internship
On-site
Zürich, ZH

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

RIVR, a Swiss robotics company pushing Physical AI for smarter last-mile delivery, is hiring an Industrial Design Intern to join its onsite Zürich team. You’ll support design, product and hardware development from hand sketching and rapid prototyping to CAD modeling in SolidWorks and rendering, while exploring color, material finishes and brand integration. The role emphasizes translating concepts into robust robotic systems, user observations, and close collaboration with senior designers to embed UX into the robot. Ideal candidates hold a BSc in Industrial Design, have SolidWorks and rendering skills, and proven prototyping experience, plus strong problem solving and teamwork. Note: Schengen-area citizens only; ETHZ/EPFL internships exempt; on-site work required.

RIVR is a Swiss robotics company pioneering Physical AI and robotic solutions to revolutionize last-mile delivery, giving 1 human the power of 1000. Through the combination of artificial neural networks and innovative robot designs with wheels and legs, RIVR aims to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and scalability in last-mile delivery. Founded as Swiss-Mile, the company rebranded to RIVR in 2025 to better reflect its mission of driving the future of intelligent robotics. Join our innovative team, renowned for pioneering robotic design and neural network applications in robotics that improve environmental understanding and decision-making. With a robust research foundation and notable contributions from ETH Zurich, we are leaders in translating artificial intelligence and robotics into practical, real-world applications.
RIVR 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.
Job Description
As an Industrial Design Intern for Robotics, you will assist the design, product and hardware development team by designing and prototyping robotic systems. You’ll be integrated into our actual workflow from hand sketching , rapid prototyping, CAD modeling and rendering to user observation sessions. Additionally, your responsibilities will include exploring color material finishes, visualising our products in various environments and scenarios, and communicating design ideas to the engineering team. This role offers hands-on experience within a dynamic and collaborative environment. We are committed to finding and nurturing exceptional talent; our internships are a key pathway to recruiting outstanding graduates who can make a significant impact in our team.
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

  • Support the team with sketching details of individual components, assemblies and entire robotic systems.
  • Assist in developing color/material/finishes and brand integration options.
  • Work closely with senior designers translating design concepts into CAD models.
  • Help integrate user experience concepts into the robot.
  • Engage in continuous learning and gain exposure to recent developments in industrial design, robotic design and AI.

What you must have

  • At least BSc in Industrial Design.
  • Proficiency in Solidworks and experience in creating stunning renderings.
  • Hands-on experience (either through, previous internships, or other projects) prototyping.
  • Strong problem-solving skills and an eagerness to work with complex, real-world design problems.
  • Eagerness to learn and contribute in a collaborative team environment.

Get some bonus points

  • Previous experience designing complex products.
  • Knowledge of AI workflows for design generation.
  • Experience with 3D animation and rigging CAD models.
  • Experience working with robotic systems
RIVR 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.