Qureos Mentor

Ottobock

Ottobock is a global leader in the prosthetics, orthotics, and mobility solutions industry, dedicated to maintaining and restoring human independence. The company focuses on providing high-quality, technologically advanced products that positively impact lives. Ottobock values innovation and excellence in both its workforce and its offerings, and is committed to empowering employees while delivering exceptional patient care experiences through strategic partnerships and a diverse range of services.

Business Unit: Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA
 
Location: 
Duderstadt, NI, DE, 37115
 
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 Contract Type: regular
 Scope of employment: full-time
 Contact Person: Lea Urbanczyk
 Contact Information: lea.urbanczyk@ottobock.de
 Job ID: 8526
 Summary Statement
 
The Global Research department at Ottobock is seeking a Control Engineer (d/f/m) with hands-on experience in prosthetics and orthotics to join its research group. The role offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of control engineering, human movement science, and clinical impact within one of the world's leading organisations in prosthetics and orthotics.
 
The department is committed to developing technologies that measurably improve mobility and quality of life for people who rely on powered prosthetic and orthotic devices. The group focuses on next-generation sensing and control strategies for lower- and upper-limb wearable robots, working across the full pipeline from biomechanical characterisation to embedded control implementation and experimental validation.
 
The position is located in our headquarter in Duderstadt near Göttingen.
 
Duties & Responsibilities
 
Develop, implement, and validate control 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 - biomechanists and clinical partners to define functionally meaningful control objectives, distinguishing between normalisation of gait patterns and user-specific optimisation targets
 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 to maintain awareness 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, other wearable robotics, or rehabilitation robotics
 Demonstrated track record, through industry deliverables, device outputs, or publications of 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
 Working proficiency in 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
 Proficiency with Python-based libraries for Control and ML 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 and organised; 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
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 Diversity at Ottobock
 
We believe in mutual respect, enjoyment at work, and a culture where everyone feels valued. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and welcome all applications - regardless of gender, age, nationality, disability, ethnic or social background, religion, or sexual orientation. We give special consideration to individuals with severe disabilities when equally qualified.
 
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 Your future at Ottobock
 
Ottobock’s products and services combine over 100 years of tradition with outstanding innovation in the fields of prosthetics, neuro-orthotics, and exoskeletons. Ottobock develops innovative fitting solutions for people with limited mobility and is driving the digitalisation of the industry. Founded in Berlin in 1919, the company has business activities in 45 countries with nearly 9,300 employees worldwide and operates the largest international patient care network with around 400 patient care clinics. Ottobock’s mission of improving freedom of movement, quality of life and independence is deeply rooted in the company's DNA, as is its social commitment: Ottobock has been a partner and supporter of the Paralympics since 1988.
 
Apply now! Your ideas and commitment will inspire your colleagues and staff, and will further the interests of Ottobock. Be part of a dynamic, growing company with flat hierarchies. We offer a richly diverse field of work, individual development opportunities and extensive qualification programs in our Ottobock Academy.
 
Please only apply via our online job portal at jobs.ottobock.com. Please quote the Job-ID for the position in question, and also state your earliest starting date and salary requirements. We look forward to receiving your application!
 
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Control Engineer (d/f/m)

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Ottobock

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Control Engineer (d/f/m)