Senior Control Engineering Lead in Prosthetics and Orthotics (d/f/m)

In this role you lead a cross-project research group focused on advancing control and sensing for prosthetics and orthotics. You shape a multi-year roadmap and collaborate with internal teams and external partners to translate advances into patient-centered solutions. You will design and validate novel control architectures, integrate AI/ML with control, and ensure compliance with regulatory and safety requirements. This position sits at the intersection of mechatronics, biomechanics, and human–machine interaction to improve mobility and autonomy for people with impaired movement. You’ll work in a global environment from Ottobock’s German hub, contributing to impactful healthcare technology.

• Competitive compensation package
• 30 days of vacation
• Flexible work hours; remote work option
• Company pension plan; capital-forming benefits
• EGYM Wellpass and wellness programs
• Bike leasing and carpooling platform

• Lead cross-project topics on control and sensing for prosthetic and orthotic devices across the organization
• Plan and execute experimental validation studies, including human subject testing, and iterate on control designs
• Develop and maintain a multi-year research roadmap aligned with department and technology vision
• Coordinate collaborations with external academic institutions and technology partners and contribute to grant applications
• Investigate, design, and validate control architectures (MPC, impedance/admittance) and integrate AI/ML methods
• Develop state estimation methods (nonlinear Kalman filters, sensor fusion, neural observers) to infer user intent and terrain context
• Benchmark performance against state of the art and track emerging trends in wearable robotics
• Collaborate with product development, biomechanics, and clinical teams to ensure research outputs meet user needs and regulatory requirements (EU MDR, EU AI Act)
• Prepare technical reports and present results to leadership and external partners
• Contribute to IP processes including patent assessments and invention disclosures

• PhD (or equivalent) in Control Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• Minimum 5 years industry experience in control systems for dynamic, safety-critical applications
• Experience leading or co-leading a research team or multi-person project
• Strong background in nonlinear control design and analysis (MPC, impedance/admittance, robust/adaptive control) and stability of time-varying systems
• Expertise in state estimation for nonlinear systems (UKF, EKF, particle filters)
• Ability to integrate AI/ML into control pipelines (RNNs, CNNs, RL)
• Experience with system identification (model-based and data-driven) for real hardware
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink; familiarity with Python ML frameworks (PyTorch/TensorFlow)
• Experience in experimental validation on physical mechatronic systems
• Strong systems-engineering mindset and cross-functional collaboration
• Proficiency in English and German

• Collaborative and interdisciplinary orientation
• Clear and precise technical communication
• Ability to present complex concepts to clinicians and users
• Nonlinear control design and analysis (MPC, impedance/admittance)
• State estimation (UKF, EKF, particle filters)
• AI/ML integration in control (RNNs, CNNs, RL)