Benjamin Kotzur

Driving three cross-functional project teams as a Program Manager @ SICK

Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

About

Experienced Product Owner and Electrical Engineer with a Master's degree from RWTH Aachen University. Bringing together 7+ years of international experience in hardware development, specializing in 2D vision sensors and camera systems My international experience includes working at Daimler in Japan, giving me a unique perspective on global technology development and cross-cultural collaboration. Combining deep technical expertise in electrical engineering with strong product management skills to deliver innovative hardware solutions. Core competencies: - Hardware Development for 1D/2D Vision Systems - Product Ownership & Agile Leadership (SAFe 6 Certified) - Cross-functional Team Coordination - International Project Experience

Experience

  • SICK Sensor Intelligence (8 yrs 6 mos)
    • Program Manager, 2D Camera Hardware Development
      Mar 2026 - Present · 4 mos

      Leading cross-functional project teams in the development of 2D camera sensor hardware and associated low-level software, including firmware and driver development.

    • Project Manager and Product Owner
      Jun 2025 - Feb 2026 · 9 mos

    • Product Owner
      Sep 2023 - Jun 2025 · 1 yr 10 mos

      - Prioritizing within the hardware team to align the team output with the strategic vision of the value stream - Ensure transparency between stakeholders and the development team by delivering Jira structures and close feedback loops

  • Vollzeit-Elternschaft at Career Break
    Jul 2025 - Nov 2025 · 5 mos

    Five months of on-the-job training in a startup environment with a very demanding CEO who communicated exclusively through screaming. No equity, but the benefits were pretty cute.

  • whitesonic GmbH (Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
    • Development Engineer
      Oct 2017 - Dec 2017 · 3 mos

      Development and Evaluation of High Frequency Ultrasound Hardware: - Circuit concept development and integration - PCB layout design and testing - Embedded DSP programming - Data Analysis with MATLAB - Supporting EMC measurements

    • Research Assistant - Hardware Development
      Apr 2017 - Sep 2017 · 6 mos

      Development and Evaluation of noise-reducing RF Ultrasound Hardware

  • Internship Alternative Drivetrains at Mercedes-Benz Japan G.K.
    Jan 2016 - Jun 2016 · 6 mos

    I supported the Alternative Drivetrains and High Voltage Battery Team during long term vehicle investigation with data analysis using MATLAB

  • Research Assistant at Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drivetrains ISEA
    Oct 2015 - Dec 2015 · 3 mos