Senior Robotic Systems Engineer

About the RoleThis 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 ForRequired: • 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 (no