What CSA Engineering does

CSA Engineering AG is a privately held Swiss embedded-systems consultancy headquartered in Solothurn, founded in 1989 and operating with approximately 30 FTEs. The firm delivers custom software and hardware development services for safety-critical and resource-constrained applications, targeting enterprise clients in medical technology, railway signaling, and industrial automation. Its service portfolio spans requirements engineering, firmware development in C/C++ on STM32, ARM, and Nordic platforms, PCB/hardware design via Altium, application development in .NET and Angular, testing and QA (including HIL and MISRA C compliance), and ongoing support. CSA-Kickstart is offered as a structured 7-step consulting engagement for early-stage product concept development.

Technically, CSA's differentiators include a proprietary C++ Building Block Framework for reusable embedded software architecture and the RaSTA-Stack, an open-source, SIL4-compliant (EN 50159) safety-critical railway communication protocol stack that the firm developed for SBB and has deployed on Aviotech's SCORPOS platform. CSA is an active member of the EULYNX Initiative, delivering EULYNX-compliant object controllers and field elements for SBB and Deutsche Bahn's 'Moving Block Demonstrator'. Cloud and tooling ecosystem partnerships span Microsoft Azure, .NET nanoFramework, Altium, Nordic Semiconductor, STM32, and LoRa/TTN.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through project-based, quote-driven professional services engagements plus a small hardware sales stream, with no disclosed public pricing or ARR. The go-to-market is direct enterprise sales, anchored by long-tenured relationships with named clients such as SBB, Deutsche Bahn, Phonak (Sonova), Stadler Signalling, Bär Bahnsicherung, RUAG, BKW, Ypsomed, Stromer, and Leica Geosystems across 53 customers and 821 cumulative projects. The firm holds ISO 9001:2015 certification (audited by SGS) and operates primarily in the DACH region (Switzerland and Germany).

Name

CSA Engineering

Legal name

CSA Engineering AG

Website

https://csa.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CSA Engineering AG is a Swiss embedded-systems consultancy (founded 1989, ~30 FTEs) delivering safety-critical software and hardware development for enterprise clients in railway signaling, medical technology, and industrial automation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Embedded Systems Engineering Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Engineering Services (541330), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)

Keywords

• Embedded software development
• Railway signaling systems
• Medical device engineering
• Hardware development services
• Industrial IoT solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Solothurn

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Consulting: CSA provides consulting services including requirements engineering, system architecture, and project management. Services include CSA-Kickstart structured consulting package for technical product development, and ongoing advisory support.
2. Embedded Software Development: Custom software development services for embedded systems, from architecture to implementation, including firmware development in C/C++, application development, and software testing services.
3. Hardware Development: Design and implementation of hardware solutions including prototypes, proof-of-concept systems, and production-ready electronics.
4. Support Services: Ongoing technical support, testing, validation, and sub-project execution to supplement client teams.
5. Value Preservation: Services optimizing existing systems, evaluating replacement components, and finding sustainable solutions for long-term value retention.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CSA Engineering is a Swiss engineering consultancy that develops embedded software and electronics for safety-critical applications across medical technology, railway, and industrial sectors. The firm delivers consulting (including the structured CSA-Kickstart package), full-lifecycle embedded software and hardware development, application and IoT solutions, testing/QA, support, and value preservation services. It also maintains proprietary technology assets such as the SIL4-compliant RaSTA-Stack railway protocol and the in-house C++ Building Block Framework for embedded applications.

Product overview

CSA Engineering is a Swiss engineering consultancy specializing in embedded software and electronics development, with over 35 years of experience serving medical technology, railway, and industrial sectors. The company offers a portfolio of services centered on embedded software development (firmware in C/C++, embedded Linux, RTOS), hardware development, application development, and IoT solutions. Its proprietary C++ Framework for Embedded Applications (Building Block Framework) provides reusable software architecture across projects. CSA Engineering also develops and maintains the RaSTA-Stack, an open-source SIL4-compliant protocol stack for safety-critical railway communication. Additional offerings include the CSA-Kickstart structured consulting package, testing and QA services (unit, integration, HIL), support services, and value preservation consulting. The company operates primarily as a services firm rather than a product vendor, with technologies including STM32 microcontrollers, TouchGFX, OPC UA, MQTT, and various cloud platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RaSTA-Stack: A Rail Safe Transport Application protocol stack developed for safety-critical railway communication systems.

Products and services

• RaSTA-Stack Rail Safe Transport Application (RaSTA) protocol stack providing safety-critical communication between railway interlocking systems and object controllers, compliant with EN 50159 and SIL4 requirements. Open-source reference implementation maintained on GitHub and delivered for the SCORPOS platform.
• C++ Framework for Embedded Applications (Building Block Framework)

Quantifiable outcome

• 821 projects successfully completed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers32 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• AviotechcoreTechnology or IntegrationCSA uses Aviotech's SCORPOS platform as the foundation for RaSTA protocol stack development. The SCORPOS dual-lane safety computer with MPC5567 microcontroller serves as the hardware platform for safety-critical railway applications.
• The Things Network (TTN)supportingTechnology or IntegrationOpen and free LoRa network used for the LoRa Demonstrator project. TTN provides good coverage in urban areas for wireless sensor and position data transmission.
• STM32 (STMicroelectronics)coreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary microcontroller platform for embedded development. CSA uses STM32 microcontrollers extensively including STM32F4, STM32F7, STM32L4, STM32WL55, and STM32H7 families. Partner for TouchGFX graphics library and MIPI DSI interfaces.
• Microsoft AzurecoreTechnology or IntegrationCloud platform used for IoT solutions, backend development, Azure DevOps for CI/CD pipelines, and AzureRTOS for embedded applications.
• .NET nanoFrameworksupportingTechnology or IntegrationCSA has a formal partnership with .NET nanoFramework for embedded C# development. Reduces development work and enables quicker market readiness for embedded systems.
• AltiumsupportingTechnology or IntegrationAltium Designer used for PCB and hardware design development.
• RUAG AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSA participated in RUAG's Innovation Accelerator Programme as one of five start-ups/small companies supporting 'Digitalisation of the Armed Forces' initiative projects.
• EULYNX InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean initiative with 14 railway infrastructure operators including SBB, aiming to standardize interfaces and elements of signaling systems. CSA develops EULYNX-compliant platforms and components.
• Nordic SemiconductorsupportingTechnology or IntegrationNordic nRF chips used for wireless connectivity in embedded projects including the TouchGFX and LoRa applications.
• Google (Google Test/Mock)supportingTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Test and Google Mock frameworks used for unit testing in embedded projects. Well-documented, powerful, and widely distributed testing frameworks.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Zühlke Engineering: Swiss-headquartered engineering consultancy with deep embedded systems, medical device, and industrial IoT practices. Closest geographic and vertical analogue to CSA, competing for similar safety-critical and regulated embedded engagements across the DACH region.
• IAV GmbH: German engineering services provider specializing in embedded systems, software, and electronics development, with strong automotive and industrial verticals. Directly comparable to CSA in service portfolio and customer segments, with a particular focus on functional safety and connected systems.
• ARRK Engineering: European product development consultancy offering embedded systems, electronics, and software engineering services across mobility and industrial sectors. Comparable to CSA in delivery model (project-based consulting) and technology focus (embedded C/C++, hardware, IoT).
• P3 Group: Consulting and engineering services firm with embedded software, functional safety, and connected systems practices serving automotive, rail, and industrial clients. Comparable business model and customer types to CSA, particularly in safety-critical and standards-driven work.
• ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH: German systems and software engineering firm with explicit focus on defense, railway, and safety-critical embedded systems. Highly comparable to CSA's railway signaling and SIL-grade practices, and competes for similar European defense/railway modernization programs.

Emerging players

• TTTech Computertechnik AG: Austrian specialist in safety-critical real-time networking and deterministic embedded platforms for automotive, aerospace, railway, and industrial automation. Overlaps with CSA's safety-critical communication stack expertise (e.g., RaSTA-style approaches) but is positioned as a product company rather than a services firm.
• Wittenstein SE: German mechatronics and safety-critical drive technology specialist with embedded controls expertise serving aerospace, medical, and industrial markets. Comparable in safety-critical embedded DNA and vertical mix to CSA, though operating more on a product than services model.

Broad incumbents

• Bertrandt AG: Large European engineering services provider with embedded software and electronics development across automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors. Overlaps with CSA in embedded firmware, hardware design, and safety-critical systems, but at significantly larger scale and broader vertical coverage.
• AKKA Technologies (Akkodis): Global engineering services and digital consultancy offering embedded software, systems engineering, and safety-critical development across mobility, aerospace, and industrial clients. Comparable business model to CSA but with substantially larger delivery footprint and broader customer base.
• Capgemini Engineering: Global engineering services arm of Capgemini covering embedded software, systems engineering, and digital twin work across aerospace, rail, automotive, and industrial clients. Comparable service offerings to CSA but at much larger scale and with broader geographic coverage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CSA Engineering