Senior Robotic Systems Engineer

About the Role

This is a foundational senior engineering hire at an early-stage industrial robotics startup based in Munich, Germany. The company is building a fully flexible, intelligent robotic work cell designed for the hardest manual industrial tasks — surface finishing, welding, and coating. You will own the core robotics software stack end-to-end, from motion planning and control through to real-world deployment on the shop floor.

This is a high-ownership, high-impact role for someone who thrives on real hardware, moves fast, and wants to shape the technical direction of a small, ambitious team pushing the boundaries of industrial automation.

What You'll Do

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

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

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

• Design, implement, and validate industrial safety concepts and fail-safe behaviors

• Lead on-site testing, calibration, and commissioning of robotic work cells in industrial environments

• Drive architecture decisions and establish engineering best practices across the team

• Collaborate cross-functionally with mechanical, electrical, and process engineers

What We're Looking For

Must-haves (dealbreakers):

• 5+ years of hands-on robotics experience in industrial automation, including direct work with industrial robotic arms

• Strong proficiency in C++ and Python for robotics software development

• Solid experience with ROS 2 for robot software development and system integration

• Ability and willingness to work on-site in Munich, Germany (relocation required if not already local; no visa sponsorship available)

Required skills & experience:

• Hands-on experience with industrial robot arms (e.g., KUKA, ABB, Fanuc, Universal Robots) in real production environments

• Proficiency with CAD tools such as SolidWorks and/or CATIA for mechanical understanding and integration

• Experience with industrial communication protocols: EtherCAT and OPC-UA

• Proven ability to integrate perception systems into real-time control loops

• Experience designing and validating industrial safety concepts and fail-safe behaviors

• Track record of on-site commissioning and calibration of robotic systems

• Background in surface finishing, welding, or coating within manufacturing environments

Nice to have:

• German language skills (not required — English is the working language)

• Startup experience: strong independent ownership, comfort with ambiguity, cross-functional collaboration

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: €75,000 – €110,000 per year (depending on experience)

• Equity participation — meaningful, early-stage equity package

• Full-time, permanent position

Location

• Munich, Bavaria, Germany — fully on-site

• Relocation to Munich is required

• No visa sponsorship available — candidates must have existing right to work in Germany/EU