He was director of the Munich University’s Geomagnetic Observatory.
Burmeister studied mathematics and physics at the University of Munich under Hugo von Seeliger and Arnold Sommerfeld, and he received his doctorate in 1919.
Due to the construction of a large military air base near Maisach, this facility was closed on October 31, 1937.
It was moved to a small town west of Munich, and it became the Fürstenfeldbruck Geomagnetic Observatory where measurements began on 1 January 1939 under Burmeister as its inaugural director.
Burmeister retired as director of the observatory in 1958, whereupon Karl Wienert was appointed to the position.