Launch Manager, Europe

Join to apply for the Launch Manager role at RIVRRIVR is a Swiss robotics company pioneering Physical AI and robotic solutions to revolutionize 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. We are 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. Job Description As the Launch Manager, you will oversee RIVR’s launch operations from our Zurich site. This role is based at our Zurich site but requires significant travel (approximately 50% of the time) to new launch locations globally to lead the setup of local operations. Our ideal candidate will be a strong leader with excellent problem-solving skills, a background in autonomous logistics (ideally with a focus on the last mile problem), a deep understanding of business processes, and a commitment to driving continuous improvement. The role is hands-on and dynamic, focused on deployments and scaling, and includes supporting deployments in Switzerland when not traveling. What You’ll Be Doing Launch Management: Prepare and manage new deployments across locations, including planning operations, preparing equipment and resources, project management, and testing Operational Process Optimisation: Design, implement, and monitor operational procedures to maximize efficiency, safety, quality, and throughput, identifying and addressing bottlenecks in both field and remote operations Resource Allocation: Manage and allocate deployment resources, including personnel, shifts/schedules, equipment, and materials, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget Budget & Financial Oversight: Assist in creating and managing the site operations budget, tracking hours, overtime, and OPEX spends, and identifying cost-saving opportunities to build lean, scalable operations Partner Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with partners, ensuring satisfaction, achieving throughput targets, and meeting all service level agreements (SLAs) Logistics: Manage the flow of robots and spare parts to the launch site from RIVR sites and third-party suppliers Data Analysis & Reporting: Collect and analyse operational data to create reports for internal stakeholders, providing insights and recommendations for strategic decisions Safety & Compliance: Ensure all operational activities strictly comply with company policies, industry regulations, and safety standards What You Must Have Experience: Operations Manager experience in the logistics field and/or autonomous vehicles/fleet management (bonus points for experience in the last mile area) Education: Bachelor's Degree or higher Language: Knowledge of basic German and working proficiency in English Driving: Driving license that permits you to drive in Switzerland and Europe Travel: Willingness and ability to travel approximately 50% of the time to global launch sites Get some bonus points Experience as a launch manager for robots or autonomous vehicles Experience with operations and autonomous vehicles, specifically in the area of last mile deliveries Diversity & Inclusion 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr