Senior Electrical Engineer in Digital Health Technologies for the Development of Brain Imaging Software

Optohive is developing brain imaging technology and is a future ETH startup, hosted by the Rehabilitation Engineering Lab (RELab) at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich

The RELab is an interdisciplinary group with competencies in mechanical and electrical engineering, movement science, neurorehabilitation and neuroscience. The RELab uses robotics, wearable sensor technologies, and non-invasive neuroimaging to explore, assess and restore sensorimotor function in persons with neurological injury, to promote sensorimotor recovery and independence.

Optohive is developing a groundbreaking brain imaging system based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology to enable fast, wearable brain recordings. We aim to translate accessible and easy-to-use brain imaging into widespread applications and accelerate the development of clinically viable biomarkers.

In this unique role, you will lead the development of our core technology, ensuring high-performance, robust, and clinically ready brain imaging solutions using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and Electroencephalography (EEG). You will take full ownership of the electrical system architecture, driving PCB/PCBA optimization, system robustness, and commercialization efforts.

This role requires both technical expertise and leadership. In the early stages, you will work hands-on, designing and developing key system components while advancing the optohive hardware and software toward extensive clinical testing in a multicentric study. Your leadership will be essential in guiding the system from prototype to commercial-ready medical device.

Key Responsibilities

• Development of Electrical Setup – Adapting circuitry of current design to improve signal quality and stability (power supply). Validate performance and robustness of the system. Plan production and automated processing.
• Firmware Development – Writing firmware for electronics to perform fast and reliable measurements. Implementing safety features and validating correct functionality. Developing cabled and wireless communication protocols.
• Overall Hardware Management – Overseeing system developments, including software and mechanical hardware.
• Manufacturing & Automation – Plan production, set up automated hardware validation, and optimize reliability testing.
• Regulatory & Quality Compliance – Ensure adherence to medical device standards and regulatory requirements.
• Documentation & Agile Methods – Create technical documentation, manage projects using agile methods, and lead internal reviews.
• Networking & Knowledge Exchange – Represent optohive at workshops, conferences, and industry events.

We are looking for a candidate that can start as soon as possible with a workload of 100%.

Your Profile

• MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field
• Experience in medical device development
• Expert in PCB design (Altium) and commercial product design
• Experience with optical hardware, firmware programming, and communication protocols (UART, Bluetooth)
• Familiarity with agile development, version control (Git), and project planning
• Fluent in English, ideally also in German
• Strong problem-solving, time management, and communication skills
• A cooperative, structured, and independent working style
• Interest in neurorehabilitation and clinical applications

• Impact: Help shape the future of brain imaging technology.
• Innovation: Work on cutting-edge fNIRS hardware.
• Growth: Take a leadership role in a growing MedTech company.
• Flexibility: Hybrid or remote work options available.
• Your career with impact: Become part of ETH Zurich, which not only supports your professional development, but also actively contributes to positive change in society.
• We are actively committed to a sustainable and climate-neutral university.
• You can expect numerous benefits, such as public transport season tickets and car sharing, a wide range of sports offered by the ASVZ, childcare and attractive pension benefits.