
Tech Lead / Team Lead Robotics Software (AMR)
Cross Border Talents · Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal · Hybrid
Weak hiring record · median 1686 days open
All reasons
- Open 136 days
- 100% of this employer's openings are over 60 days old
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
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