Senior Automation Engineer (Robotics)

SAEKI - Manufacturing at software speed

Europe's defense industrial base cannot respond at the speed modern conflict requires. Legacy suppliers operate on month-long timelines. Tribal knowledge is retiring. Supply chains are fragile. SAEKI is building the operating system for autonomous factories — the infrastructure that lets Europe manufacture mission-critical components at software speed. You'll own the robotic systems that make Factory ONE autonomous: the industrial robots that handle parts between machines, the automated material transport systems, and the sensor-driven feedback loops that keep everything running without human intervention. Your work directly determines whether our factory operates with 3 operators or 30.

The Role

As a Senior Automation Engineer (Robotics), you will design, program, and commission the robotic workcells and automated material handling systems at Factory ONE. You are the person who turns our factory from a collection of standalone machines into an integrated, autonomous production line.
Based on-site at Factory ONE in Munich, you'll work at the intersection of mechanical engineering, robotics software, and production operations — programming robots, integrating sensors, and ensuring that automated sequences run reliably under real production conditions.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of experience in industrial robotics — programming, integrating, and commissioning robotic workcells in a production environment.
• Robot Programming Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in at least one major robot programming language/system (e.g., KUKA KRL, ABB RAPID, Fanuc TP/Karel, or Universal Robots). Any of these vendor-specific systems is acceptable. Experience with offline programming and simulation tools is expected.
• Systems Integration: Proven ability to integrate robots with peripheral equipment — CNC machines, conveyors, vision systems, grippers, and sensors. You understand mechanical interfaces, I/O mapping, and communication protocols.
• Vision and Sensing: Experience with machine vision systems for part recognition, quality inspection, or robot guidance. Familiarity with 3D scanning or structured light systems is a plus.
• Safety Engineering: Deep understanding of industrial robot safety standards (ISO 10218, ISO/TS 15066) and risk assessment methodologies.
• Hands-on Commissioning: You are comfortable on the factory floor — wiring, calibrating, and troubleshooting robotic systems until they run reliably.
• Diagnostics Skills: Strong diagnostics capability across robots, peripherals, safety, I/O, and industrial communications. You can isolate root causes quickly under production pressure.
• General-Purpose Programming Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in Python, C++, or a similar general-purpose language, with the same depth and rigor as your robot-controller programming skills. You are comfortable in software team workflows (Git, code reviews, and CI/CD) and have practical experience with Docker and SQL databases.
• Location: Based in Munich (on-site at Factory ONE).
• Language: Fluent in German and English.

What we're not looking for

• Robotics researchers who have only worked in lab environments. Our robots operate in a real production facility with real delivery deadlines.
• Engineers who see their scope as ending at the robot controller. You own the full workcell — robot, peripherals, safety, and integration with the factory OS.
• People who are uncomfortable troubleshooting under pressure. When a robotic cell goes down during production, you are the first responder.
• Automation specialists with no interest in software. You will collaborate daily with our OS and MI teams.

What we offer

• Mission: Rebuild the industrial sovereignty of the West. Your work directly enables the production of mission-critical hardware for defense and space.
• Total Ownership: High-stakes autonomy in your domain. You own both the problems and the solutions — and have the authority to execute.
• The Environment: Access to a 5,000m² state-of-the-art facility featuring 5-axis CNCs, industrial robots, and large-scale 3D printers. Your work runs on real hardware from day one.
• The Team: "Special Forces" model. Everyone senior, everyone ships. No politics, no bureaucracy. Direct feedback, high standards.
• Compensation: Competitive salary + meaningful equity.
• Location: Factory ONE in Munich. Hybrid options available where applicable.

Apply

• Resume: Focus on systems you've built and owned.
• GitHub/Portfolio: Show us work you're proud of — code, machines, or production systems.
• Cover letter: Why this mission? Why now? What would you build first?