Perception Developer - AI & Computer Vision (m/f/d)

About the Role

At Kärcher, our professional KIRA cleaning robots independently maintain floors in expansive industrial areas and public spaces such as logistics centers, supermarkets, and airports. We are dedicated to developing innovative, interconnected devices combining sophisticated software, sensory technology, and hardware. Our team and fleet of robots are expanding, and we invite you to join us at our Schwaikheim location near Stuttgart.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of the perception layer for our KIRA robots by integrating sensor data from cameras and LiDAR into a reliable environmental model that facilitates safe navigation and intelligent behavior.
• Design robust obstacle detection methods and build image-based AI models to enable dependable responses in real-world conditions, including detecting critical obstacles as well as future challenges like recognizing water puddles, dirt, or specific floor objects.
• Create semantic environmental understanding covering aspects such as floor types, zones, and hazard areas to allow the robot to intelligently adjust cleaning and navigation behavior.
• Manage the collection and annotation of high-quality training datasets, drive model training, evaluation, and continuous improvement based on real field data.
• Optimize computer vision and AI models under strict real-time and energy constraints for deployment on resource-limited, ARM-based hardware, ensuring performance through systematic validation using metrics and field logs.
• Collaborate closely with sensor integration and motion & planning teams to align perception with robotic driving behavior, ensuring a comprehensive, intelligent, and safe system.

Qualifications and Experience

• A completed degree in fields such as computer science, robotics, machine learning, or electrical engineering providing a strong theoretical base.
• Practical experience in computer vision and machine learning, preferably within autonomous systems, mobile robotics, or automotive sectors, with a deep understanding of real-world model performance.
• Genuine enthusiasm for enabling robots to perceive and comprehend their surroundings, with a passion for guiding projects from initial model design through to successful deployment in operational systems.
• Proficient in Python and C++, with solid expertise in deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch and TensorFlow, computer vision libraries like OpenCV, and ideally ROS/ROS2; experienced in model optimization for edge deployments including quantization and TensorRT.
• A structured, data-driven, yet experimental approach ensuring high-quality results, coupled with excellent interface skills to seamlessly connect sensors and navigation systems.

Benefits

• Generous time off: up to 32 days of vacation plus additional leave on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
• Special financial rewards including anniversary bonuses, target incentives, and other extra payments to celebrate long-term team members.
• Flexible working conditions with flextime and opportunities to work from home.
• Comprehensive health and wellness support including an on-site health center with company doctors, counseling services, and varied sport and leisure activities such as HIIT, yoga, choir, and photography club.
• Personal growth opportunities supported by a talent management process and an extensive range of professional development programs.

Contact

Join us in creating a cleaner world. For further inquiries, contact Julia May, Recruiter, at julia.may@karcher.com or call +49 (155) 6690 - 3089.