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 Competitiv