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