Hardware Development Engineer - Industrial Automation (m/f/d)

To strengthen our engineering capabilities, we are looking for a motivated Hardware Development Engineer - Industrial Automation (m/f/d). This role focuses on the development and integration of electronic hardware, control electronics, and system-level solutions for complex special-purpose machines and automated manufacturing systems.

While PLC software development is handled by a dedicated team, this position plays a key role in hardware-centric automation design, electronic system development, machine safety, and commissioning, working closely with PLC, software, and mechanical engineering colleagues throughout the entire lifecycle, from concept to industrialization.

Your Responsibilities

• Define automation concepts, electronic architectures, and system designs for special-purpose machines and automated manufacturing systems
• Develop electronic assemblies and hardware solutions for machine control, sensing, inspection, and measurement applications
• Design, review, and optimize electronic circuits and printed circuit boards (PCB) for industrial applications
• Specify, validate, and integrate electronic components, sensors, actuators, drives, robots, and laser systems
• Specify and integrate PLC-based control systems (preferably Beckhoff / TwinCAT) in collaboration with the PLC software team
• Design and dimension electrical power distribution, compressed air, and vacuum supply systems
• Conduct machine safety analyses and risk assessments in accordance with the Machinery Directive and CE conformity requirements
• Support EMC-compliant hardware design, testing, and validation activities
• Commission and validate machines in-house and at customer sites (national and international), together with interdisciplinary teams
• Perform fault analysis, troubleshooting, and system-level optimization on new and existing machines
• Apply and integrate industrial communication systems (e.g. EtherCAT, Profinet)
• Develop quality inspection and measurement solutions using modern sensor technologies
• Transfer developed systems into production-ready machines and series manufacturing
• Document development, commissioning, validation, and test results in accordance with quality and regulatory standards
• Collaborate closely with mechanical design, robotics, OptoMech, software, and project management teams across the organization
• Support production departments with technical troubleshooting and fault recovery

Your Profile

• University degree in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or a comparable field
• Experience in electronic hardware development, preferably in industrial automation, special-purpose machinery, manufacturing equipment, or plant engineering
• Experience in the development of electronic assemblies and printed circuit boards (PCB)
• Knowledge of analog and digital circuit design
• Experience with electronic hardware validation, testing, and troubleshooting
• Practical knowledge of PLC-controlled machines and automation architectures. Hands-on PLC software development is not the primary focus of this role
• Knowledge of drive technology, industrial automation, sensors, and industrial communication systems
• Experience with machine safety, risk assessments, and CE conformity
• Experience with electronic design and simulation tools such as Altium Designer, LTSpice, OrCAD, KiCad, or similar is highly desirable
• Experience with electrical engineering tools such as EPLAN is an advantage
• Structured, analytical, and independent working style with a hands-on mindset
• Ability to quickly adapt to new technologies and tasks
• Fluency in German, spoken and written, is required. English language skills are an advantage.