Senior Robotic Systems Engineer

About the Role

This is a foundational senior engineering hire at an early-stage industrial robotics startup in Munich. You will own the core robotics software stack end-to-end — from motion planning and control through to real-world deployment of an intelligent robotic work cell built for the hardest manual tasks in industry: surface finishing, welding, and coating.

This is a high-ownership, hands-on role for someone who thrives on turning real hardware into reliable, production-grade systems. You'll shape architecture decisions from day one on a small, ambitious team pushing the boundaries of industrial automation.

What You'll Do

• Own and evolve the core robotics software stack of the work cell

• Develop and optimize motion planning, trajectory generation, and control algorithms for industrial robot arms

• Integrate perception systems — cameras, force/torque sensors, LiDAR — into real-time control loops

• Implement industrial safety concepts and fail-safe behaviors

• Lead on-site testing, calibration, and commissioning activities

• Drive system architecture decisions and establish engineering best practices

What We're Looking For

Required:

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in robotics engineering, with a strong focus on real-world hardware (simulation-only backgrounds are not a fit)

• Demonstrated experience with motion planning and trajectory generation for industrial robot arms in production environments (e.g. KUKA, ABB, Fanuc, Universal Robots)

• Proficiency in C++ and/or Python

• Experience with ROS 2

• Hands-on integration of force/torque sensors and/or vision systems

• Solid grounding in kinematics, dynamics, and control theory

• Eligible to work in Germany — visa sponsorship is not available

Nice to Have:

• Background in surface finishing, welding, or industrial coating applications

• Experience with 3D CAD tools (SolidWorks, CATIA)

• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols such as EtherCAT or OPC-UA

• German language skills (not required)

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive cash salary in the range of €75,000 – €110,000 annually

• Meaningful equity participation — ownership is a core part of the offer

Location

• Munich, Bavaria, Germany — fully on-site

• Remote work is not available for this role

• Candidates must already be eligible to work in Germany; no visa sponsorship is offered