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Tech Lead / Team Lead Robotics Software (AMR)

Posted 18 days ago

OfficeLisbon, Lisbon, PortugalSE

About the Role

We are looking for a hands-on Tech Lead to own the software “brain” of our Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). This is a Principal Engineer role with leadership responsibility — not a traditional management position.

You will design and build systems that operate in real industrial environments, not just simulations — combining deep robotics engineering (ROS, SLAM, navigation) with system architecture and technical leadership.

What You’ll Do

  • Own and evolve the robotics software architecture, including navigation, localization, and safety
  • Debug complex system issues hands-on, rather than delegating them
  • Drive R&D initiatives such as map handling, odometry, and multi-floor navigation
  • Lead and mentor the robotics team through technical authority
  • Work closely with real customer deployments in industrial environments

Requirements

What You Bring

A Strong Robotics Engineering Foundation

  • Hands-on experience in navigation, SLAM, or localization
  • Exposure to perception (object detection, sensor processing, environment understanding) is a plus
  • A track record of building production-grade systems, not just prototypes
  • Comfort with real-world problems such as localization drift, sensor noise, and navigation edge cases

Systems Thinking

  • An architect’s mindset — you think in systems, not just features
  • Strong understanding of distributed robotic systems
  • Experience with ROS1 ↔ ROS2 migration and bridging
  • Familiarity with containerized robotics stacks (Docker)
  • Ability to make architectural decisions and clearly explain trade-offs between performance, robustness, and maintainability

Technical Leadership

  • A natural ability to lead through technical authority rather than hierarchy
  • Skill in facilitating design discussions and aligning engineers on architecture
  • An aptitude for structuring and breaking down complex problems

A Hands-On Mindset

  • Active, ongoing coding in Python and C++
  • A genuine interest in debugging real, system-level issues
  • Around 60–70% of your time spent hands-on in engineering, not coordination

Must-Have Skills

Robotics / Core Tech

Programming

Systems

  • Strong experience with ROS1 and ROS2
  • Navigation stack (Nav2 / move_base)
  • SLAM / localization (e.g. LOAM, AMCL, LIO-SAM)
  • Sensor fusion (LiDAR + IMU at minimum)

  • Python (primary language)
  • C++ (mandatory)
  • Rust (ideal, not required)

  • Linux (Ubuntu, debugging)
  • Git workflows and CI/CD


Nice to Have

  • Experience with industrial AMRs
  • Knowledge of VDA 5050 and fleet manager integration
  • Multi-robot systems / fleet management
  • Safety and risk-prevention knowledge (e.g. ISO 3691-4)
  • Simulation experience (Gazebo / Ignition)
  • Docker / container-based robotics architectures

Where You Might Come From

  • AMR / AGV companies (e.g. KUKA, ABB, MiR, Fetch, Locus Robotics)
  • Robotics startups
  • Autonomous driving, if your navigation and systems focus is strong

Benefits

Why This Role

High Technical Impact: Your software directly controls robots operating in production environments.

End-to-End Ownership: From architecture through implementation, deployment, and real-world behavior.

High Complexity: SLAM, navigation, multi-robot coordination, and real-world constraints keep the work genuinely challenging.

Freedom to Shape Architecture: You will have strong influence over technical direction.

A True Hybrid Role: Deep technical work combined with real leadership impact.


Compensation Senior Level

Job details
Workplace
Office
Location
Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Experience
SE
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Key team members

Shirley Arlt

Shirley Arlt

Ricardo Nobre

Ricardo Nobre

Deborah Cardoso de Castro

Deborah Cardoso de Castro

Margot EL AROU

Margot EL AROU

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