Senior Robotic Systems Engineer

About the role

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