Control Engineer (d/f/m)

Summary Statement

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, andvalidatecontrol strategies for powered lower- and upper-limb prosthetic and orthotic devices, including impedance control, admittance control, finite-state machine architectures, and model predictive approaches
• Translate biomechanical models of human joint function,including torque-angle-velocity envelopes, inter-joint coupling, and gait phase dynamics,into control requirements and implementable controller structures
• Integrate AI/ML components into control pipelines: apply classification networks for activity and terrain recognition, recurrent models for gait phase prediction, and data-driven approaches for parameter adaptation
• Develop and apply state estimation methods,including Kalman filter variants and sensor fusion algorithms,to estimate joint states, user intent, and environmental context from on-device sensor data (IMU, force/torque, EMG, encoders)
• Design and execute experimental validation protocols on physical hardware, including benchtop testing and human subject studies in collaboration with clinical and biomechanics partners
• Collaborate with- amongst others - biomechanistsand clinical partners to define functionally meaningful controlobjectives, distinguishing betweennormalisationof gait patterns and user-specificoptimisationtargets
• Evaluate sensory feedback modalities (force, vibrotactile, proprioceptive substitution) and assess their role in closing the human-device control loop
• Document control architectures, experimental results, and validation outcomes in technical reports
• Conduct structured literature reviews and competitive benchmarking tomaintainawareness of the state of the art in prosthetic and orthotic control, wearable robotics, and human locomotion science
• Present findings to internal stakeholders, research partners, and where relevant to clinical audiences
• Engage with regulatory and product development teams to ensure control designs are compatible with applicable safety standards (EU MDR, IEC 60601-1, ISO 13482)

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Control Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a closely related field
• Minimum 2 and up to 5 years of verifiable experience in prosthetics, orthotics, exoskeletons,otherwearable robotics, or rehabilitation robotics
• Demonstratedtrack record,through industry deliverables, device outputs,or publicationsof developing control strategies directly and verifiably informed by human biomechanical analysis
• Solid understanding of human musculoskeletal mechanics: joint kinematics and kinetics across lower and upper limb, muscle-tendon dynamics, and inter-segmental force and torque relationships
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing real-time control systems for physical mechatronic devices with strict timing, safety, and robustness requirements
• Workingproficiencyin classical control methods as applied to wearable or rehabilitation robots: finite-state impedance/admittance control, PID-based architectures, and torque/position control in actuated joints
• Practical experience with state estimation for nonlinear systems(Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF), or equivalent Bayesian estimator)applied to real sensor data from physical hardware
• Experience applying AI/ML methods in a control or estimation context: activity or terrain classification using IMU or force data, gait phase prediction, or parameter adaptation via data-driven models
• Proficiencywith Python-basedlibraries for Control andML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit-learn, or equivalent)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; able to structure complex biomechanical and control problems into testable hypotheses and measurable design criteria
• Collaborative by default; comfortable working in an interdisciplinary team where decisions require integration of engineering, clinical, and regulatory perspectives
• Clear and precise communicator in English, both in writing and verbally - German is a plus
• Self-directed andorganised; able to manage parallel workstreams and deliver experimental results within agreed timelines

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package
• 30 days of vacation
• Flexibility: Flexible work hours and the opportunity for remote work
• Retirement benefits: Company pension plan, capital-forming benefits
• Health and well-being: EGYM Wellpass, company sports (e.g., yoga, volleyball, tennis), external counseling for personal and professional matters
• Mobility: Carpooling platform, access to the company vehicle pool for business trips, bicycle leasing (JobRad & Bikeleasing)
• Discounts & perks: Corporate benefits and offers from local partners
• Onboarding & professional development: Personalized onboarding during the Ottobock Welcome Days & training opportunities at the Ottobock Academy