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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