Engineering Manager – Control & Low-Level Software (m/f/d)

At RobCo, we don’t just build robots, we are redefining the relationship between hardware and AI. Our end-to-end solutions seamlessly combine advanced, scalable industrial hardware with a central software suite powered by Physical AI to make manufacturing truly autonomous, efficient, and scalable. By delivering field-ready robotic solutions that just work, we empower industrial companies to automate without complexity and successfully solve the global labor shortage.

At RobCo, we automate the ordinary, so humans can do the extraordinary. To achieve this, we are looking for an ambitious Engineering Manager - Control & Low-Level Software (m/f/d) to help us establish RobCo as a leading provider of automation solutions.

In this key role, you will lead the team behind how our robots move: RobControl, the real-time controller running on every RobCo robot, together with control unit software, robot modeling and hardware integration. One controller codebase drives our modular robots, OEM configurations and Alfie, our autonomous industrial robot, so your team's work reaches every robot in the field. Managing a team of control, embedded and software engineers, you will balance new capabilities for Alfie and our physical AI roadmap with the reliability factory customers expect on every shift.

Your Responsibilities

• Own the hardware-software bridge: Lead the team developing our real-time controller, robot models, hardware interfacing via EtherCat, as well as core robot algorithms like motion generation and planning, calibration, etc., running on Linux-based Control Units.

• Lead and Grow the Team: Act as a people-first leader for a mixed team of experienced engineers and early-career talent. Hire and coach, and balance roadmap work with field support through clear priorities and a fair on-call rotation.

• Drive Engineering Excellence: Set standards for code quality, hardware-in-the-loop and automated testing, and CI/CD, so that done means tested, released and running in the field. Improve observability so field issues can be diagnosed remotely and quickly.

• One Platform for Every Robot: Keep one controller codebase for modular robots, OEM configurations and Alfie, extending it to new kinematic structures, more joints and multi-arm systems without forking it. Manage technical debt and architectural health as we scale.

• Partner Across Teams: Work with Product Management, Hardware, Safety & Compliance and Robot Intelligence to turn customer and autonomy needs into a clear roadmap, integrate RobControl with the safety controller, and support certification against ISO 10218 and ISO 13849.

• Cross-Team Leadership: Mentor junior EMs and help evolve company-wide engineering best practices and software-first principles.

We're looking for someone who has:

• Completed a university degree in Robotics, Mechatronics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or a related field.

• 3+ years of experience leading engineering teams that ship real-time or embedded software for robots, motion systems or other industrial machines.

• Deep experience in robot control and motion is a big plus: kinematics and dynamics, trajectory generation, and position, velocity and torque control. Strong C++ and Python on real-time Linux, with hands-on EtherCAT and ROS 2 experience.

• Proven track record of driving an AI-first engineering culture and implementing agentic workflows that measurably accelerate team velocity and system efficiency.

• Expert knowledge of modern SDLC practices for software that runs on hardware, including hardware-in-the-loop testing and staged releases, with a track record of improving release frequency and field stability.

• Working knowledge of functional safety for industrial robots (ISO 10218, ISO 13849) and experience working closely with safety and certification teams.

• Culture-aligned mindset characterized by hardware empathy, a passion for software-defined hardware, and a strong culture of high ownership.

• Very good English skills with the ability to navigate complex architectural discussions with Staff engineers while clearly communicating risks to stakeholders.

Why join RobCo?

• Develop modular, software-defined robotics solutions with us that set new standards in automation.

• Work out across Germany in over 7,200 studios with our subsidized Wellpass membership.

• Flexible working hours, a modern office, and—depending on the role—the option to work from home.

• Regular team events—from relaxed beer & pizza nights on the rooftop terrace to shared experiences on ski trips or at Oktoberfest.