Senior Robotic Systems Engineer

About the Role This is a foundational senior engineering hire at a small, ambitious robotics startup in Munich building a fully flexible, intelligent robotic work cell for the hardest manual tasks in industry — surface finishing, welding, and coating . You will own the core robotics software stack end-to-end, from motion planning and control to perception integration and real-world deployment in industrial environments. This is a high-ownership, high-impact role for someone who thrives on real hardware, moves fast, and wants to shape both product and engineering culture from an early stage. Equity participation is a meaningful part of the package. What You'll Do Own the core robotics software stack of the work cell architecture Develop and optimize motion planning, trajectory generation, and 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 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 Proficiency in C++ and Python for robotics software development Production experience with ROS 2 for robot software development and integration Ability and willingness to work fully 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 Integration of perception systems (cameras, force/torque sensors, LiDAR) into real-time control loops Design and validation of industrial safety concepts and fail-safe behaviors On-site testing, calibration, and commissioning of robotic work cells Domain experience in surface finishing, welding, or coating within manufacturing environments Nice to have: German language skills (not required — English is fully sufficient) Demonstrated ability to take independent ownership and collaborate cross-functionally in a startup environment Compensation & Benefits Base salary: €75,000 – €110,000 per year (depending on experience) Equity participation: meaningful equity stake as an early team member High-ownership role with direct influence on product and engineering direction Location Munich, Germany — fully on-site Relocation to Munich is required No remote or hybrid option available for this role No visa sponsorship — candidates must have the right to work in Germany Find Jobs in Germany on Arbeitnow