Automation Software Architect

Koenig & Bauer AG, a printing press manufacturer with 5,500 employees worldwide, is looking for an Automation Software Architect at its Würzburg site for the Factory & Machine Automation department.

• PLC software architecture (OOP): You are responsible for the object-oriented design and development of complex, reusable control software according to IEC 61131-3 (focus on Structured Text). You consistently apply methods, properties, interfaces and inheritance directly on the PLC.
• Functional safety: You take on the design, programming and validation of safety-related applications (safety logic) – inside or outside the control environment depending on the architecture.
• Drive technology & motion control: Your tasks include the integration, parameterisation and optimisation of modern drive systems, demanding axes and kinematics.
• High-level language development & IT/OT integration: You develop PC-based software in C#/.NET and program interfaces (incl. APIs) for seamless connection to MES, ERP and cloud incl. databases – always in strict compliance with current cyber security requirements.
• Testing & commissioning: You establish unit testing in automation, use simulations (digital twin) and carry out regional or worldwide commissioning of the systems at the customer's site.

• Foundation & experience: Completed degree (automation engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, mechatronics) or technician training with a strong IT affinity. You bring several years of experience in controller programming (special machinery and plant engineering) and ideally in high-level language development. A career change as a C# developer with a solid automation background is also possible with us.
• PLC architecture & OOP: Deep expertise in modern engineering tools (CoDeSys, Simatic AX, TIA Portal) and the ability to understand existing (older) control systems. A sound understanding of object-oriented software design principles (encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, SOLID principles) on real-time systems is a matter of course for you.
• Software engineering & edge: Very confident handling of C#/.NET (including asynchronous programming, WPF, WinForms, Blazor) and databases (SQL, NoSQL/InfluxDB). You are experienced in using version control (Git) and CI/CD pipelines and have first exposure to Industrial Edge Devices and Docker.
• Safety, networks & cyber security: Practical experience with fail-safe controllers (Siemens Safety Integrated, Bosch Rexroth SafeLogic, Beckhoff TwinSAFE) and standards such as ISO 13849 / IEC 62061. Profound knowledge of communication protocols (OPC UA, MQTT, TCP/IP, REST APIs, EtherCAT, PROFINET) and OT security (IEC 62443, certificate management, TLS).
• Mindset & communication: You stand out through cross-system thinking (mechanics, electrics, IT) and strong analytical problem-solving skills in debugging. With good to business-fluent (technical) English, you act as a confident mediator and bridge-builder between design, electrical planning and the IT department.