Lead Automation & Controls Engineer (m/w/d) in Hamburg

The Krebs Group of Companies is a family-owned company based in Hamburg with extensive experience in industrial services dating back to 1949. Under the motto “Clear. Strong. Nordic” we stand for reliability, healthy growth, and open, team-oriented collaboration. With approximately 550 employees across more than 15 locations, we are shaping the future together.

We are developing a game-changing robotic painting solution for the monopile industry and are looking for a highly skilled Lead Automation & Controls Engineer (m/w/d) to take technical ownership of the control and software architecture.

This role is ideal for someone with deep experience in block-based and industrial automation programming who can build, test, and optimise robust software for a complex robotic system operating in demanding industrial environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and maintenance of the robot control software for an industrial painting system.
• Program and configure block-based control logic and automation sequences for robotic movement, paint application, safety interlocks, and process monitoring.
• Work closely with mechanical, electrical, and process engineers to translate system requirements into reliable and scalable software solutions.
• Develop, test, debug, and optimise robot programs for accuracy, repeatability, coating quality, and cycle-time performance.
• Integrate robot programming with PLCs, HMIs, sensors, drives, 3D scanning, and other industrial control components.
• Support commissioning, factory testing, and on-site start-up of robotic systems.
• Troubleshoot complex software and controls issues during development and deployment.
• Establish programming standards, documentation practices, and version control for the project.
• Mentor other programmers and contribute to the long-term software architecture of the platform.
• Ensure software design aligns with industrial safety, reliability, and maintainability requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Strong experience in industrial automation programming, robotics, or control systems engineering.
• Advanced skills in block-based or function block style programming for industrial applications.
• Solid understanding of PLC programming, industrial communication protocols, and system integration.
• Experience programming or commissioning robotic systems in manufacturing or heavy industry environments.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills with the ability to work across software, controls, and hardware interfaces.
• Experience with motion control, safety systems, and sensor integration.
• Ability to work hands-on in a fast-paced development environment and support testing on real equipment.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to lead technical decisions across a multidisciplinary team.
• Skilled in English writing and verbal communication

Preferred Experience

• Experience with robotic block stage programming.
• Background in heavy industry, offshore, steel fabrication, or large-scale automated machinery.
• 3D scanning software experience.
• Familiarity with ABB, KUKA, FANUC, or similar industrial robot platforms.
• Experience leading software delivery from concept through commissioning.

System overview

• Rail based linear painting robot for XXXL Monopiles custom design for heavy and complexed painting systems.
• 3D scanning of the object for grid mapping
• Encoders and sensors to monitor up to 13 axes.
• Robot is linear on rails, object is rotating.
• All hardware is programmed in “block stage” to be able to easy replace different hardware to avoid total reprogramming.
• Full quality assurance-report of the whole process.

Why Join Us

This is an opportunity to help shape a breakthrough robotics solution for a major industrial market. You will play a leading role in building a high-impact product from the ground up, working with advanced robotics, automation, and process technology to transform how monopiles are coated at industrial scale.