Physical AI Engineer
TL;DR
We are expanding Duferco’s Corporate Innovation Team: a fast-moving engineering team operating in a startup-style environment, backed by the stability and scale of a global diversified group.
We are looking for a Physical AI Engineer to explore and build intelligent systems that connect AI with the physical world.
Our ambition is to bring AI beyond the digital world, developing intelligent systems that can perceive, understand, and act within real physical environments.
You will work at the intersection of AI-powered computer vision, 3D perception, spatial intelligence, autonomous robotics, and industrial automation, developing systems that can perceive their surroundings, localize themselves, map environments, plan movements, and act autonomously in changing conditions.
This is a highly hands-on role combining technology scouting, experimentation, rapid prototyping, and practical engineering. We are looking for someone who enjoys exploring emerging technologies, building working prototypes, and turning advanced AI capabilities into solutions that operate on real machines.
What You’ll Do
- Explore emerging Physical AI technologies, scouting and evaluating AI models, robotics platforms, advanced sensors, and intelligent automation solutions.
- Develop AI-powered perception systems using computer vision, LiDAR, depth cameras, and sensor fusion to enable machines to understand their surroundings.
- Build spatial intelligence and autonomous navigation solutions, applying SLAM, 3D reconstruction, localization, mapping, obstacle detection, and motion planning to operate in complex, dynamic environments.
- Connect perception with autonomous action, integrating AI algorithms with industrial robots, robotic arms, mobile robots, drones, and other automated systems.
- Rapidly prototype, test, and iterate, working directly with real sensors, robots, and hardware to validate technical feasibility and performance.
- Bring prototypes into real-world operation, addressing practical challenges such as reliability, hardware integration, environmental constraints, and deployment.
- Collaborate with engineers, technology partners, and business teams to identify opportunities and turn promising technologies into practical solutions across industrial, logistics, and other business environments.
This is not a research-only or simulation-only role. We value experimentation, but experiments must lead to tangible results. You’ll be expected to work hands-on with real hardware, build functional prototypes, troubleshoot physical systems, and make things work outside the lab.
You’re Probably a Fit If
- You have ideally 5+ years of relevant professional experience, or a PhD in a related field (computer vision, AI, robotics, autonomous systems, or similar), with a strong focus on hands-on engineering and real-world applications.
- You have strong experience in computer vision and deep learning, including modern AI architectures for visual perception.
- You have experience with 3D perception, SLAM, spatial mapping, localization, point clouds, LiDAR, depth sensing, or 3D reconstruction.
- You understand the principles of autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, motion planning, and robotic perception.
- You are proficient in Python and familiar with AI/computer vision frameworks such as PyTorch, OpenCV, or similar.
- You have hands-on experience building and testing prototypes with real hardware, integrating AI algorithms, sensors,
or physical devices into working systems.
- You enjoy rapid experimentation, moving quickly from an idea or emerging technology to a functional proof of concept.
- You are comfortable working across AI, software, sensors, and robotics, even if you’re not a specialist in every area.
- You combine strong engineering skills with curiosity, pragmatism, and a get-things-done mentality.
Nice to have: Experience with ROS/ROS2, NVIDIA Isaac (Isaac Sim, Isaac ROS), visual or LiDAR SLAM, autonomous navigation, robotic manipulation, drone autonomy, industrial automation, or simulation-to-real-world deployment. Practical experience delivering working solutions involving real robots, drones, autonomous machines, or industrial systems is particularly valued.
You don’t need to know every technology listed. We value strong AI engineering foundations, hands-on problem-solving, adaptability, and the ability to turn emerging technologies into working physical systems.
What We Offer
- The opportunity to work on cutting-edge Physical AI and robotics applications across a diversified international group.
- Real ownership, from technology scouting and experimentation to working prototypes and deployed solutions.
- Access to industrial environments, real operational challenges, and opportunities to collaborate with external technology partners.
- A fast-moving, collaborative environment with significant freedom to explore new approaches.
- Gross annual salary ranging from €45,000 to €60,000, plus a performance-based premio.
Compensation is tailored to your technical expertise, professional experience, and expected contribution.
- Flexible working hours and a hybrid work setup.
If you’re excited about giving AI the ability to perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the physical world — and you love building things that actually work — we’d love to hear from you.
We are expanding Duferco’s Corporate Innovation Team: a fast-moving engineering team operating in a startup-style environment, backed by the stability and scale of a global diversified group.
We are looking for a Physical AI Engineer to explore and build intelligent systems that connect AI with the physical world.
Our ambition is to bring AI beyond the digital world, developing intelligent systems that can perceive, understand, and act within real physical environments.
You will work at the intersection of AI-powered computer vision, 3D perception, spatial intelligence, autonomous robotics, and industrial automation, developing systems that can perceive their surroundings, localize themselves, map environments, plan movements, and act autonomously in changing conditions.
This is a highly hands-on role combining technology scouting, experimentation, rapid prototyping, and practical engineering. We are looking for someone who enjoys exploring emerging technologies, building working prototypes, and turning advanced AI capabilities into solutions that operate on real machines.
What You’ll Do
- Explore emerging Physical AI technologies, scouting and evaluating AI models, robotics platforms, advanced sensors, and intelligent automation solutions.
- Develop AI-powered perception systems using computer vision, LiDAR, depth cameras, and sensor fusion to enable machines to understand their surroundings.
- Build spatial intelligence and autonomous navigation solutions, applying SLAM, 3D reconstruction, localization, mapping, obstacle detection, and motion planning to operate in complex, dynamic environments.
- Connect perception with autonomous action, integrating AI algorithms with industrial robots, robotic arms, mobile robots, drones, and other automated systems.
- Rapidly prototype, test, and iterate, working directly with real sensors, robots, and hardware to validate technical feasibility and performance.
- Bring prototypes into real-world operation, addressing practical challenges such as reliability, hardware integration, environmental constraints, and deployment.
- Collaborate with engineers, technology partners, and business teams to identify opportunities and turn promising technologies into practical solutions across industrial, logistics, and other business environments.
This is not a research-only or simulation-only role. We value experimentation, but experiments must lead to tangible results. You’ll be expected to work hands-on with real hardware, build functional prototypes, troubleshoot physical systems, and make things work outside the lab.
You’re Probably a Fit If
- You have ideally 5+ years of relevant professional experience, or a PhD in a related field (computer vision, AI, robotics, autonomous systems, or similar), with a strong focus on hands-on engineering and real-world applications.
- You have strong experience in computer vision and deep learning, including modern AI architectures for visual perception.
- You have experience with 3D perception, SLAM, spatial mapping, localization, point clouds, LiDAR, depth sensing, or 3D reconstruction.
- You understand the principles of autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, motion planning, and robotic perception.
- You are proficient in Python and familiar with AI/computer vision frameworks such as PyTorch, OpenCV, or similar.
- You have hands-on experience building and testing prototypes with real hardware, integrating AI algorithms, sensors,
or physical devices into working systems.
- You enjoy rapid experimentation, moving quickly from an idea or emerging technology to a functional proof of concept.
- You are comfortable working across AI, software, sensors, and robotics, even if you’re not a specialist in every area.
- You combine strong engineering skills with curiosity, pragmatism, and a get-things-done mentality.
Nice to have: Experience with ROS/ROS2, NVIDIA Isaac (Isaac Sim, Isaac ROS), visual or LiDAR SLAM, autonomous navigation, robotic manipulation, drone autonomy, industrial automation, or simulation-to-real-world deployment. Practical experience delivering working solutions involving real robots, drones, autonomous machines, or industrial systems is particularly valued.
You don’t need to know every technology listed. We value strong AI engineering foundations, hands-on problem-solving, adaptability, and the ability to turn emerging technologies into working physical systems.
What We Offer
- The opportunity to work on cutting-edge Physical AI and robotics applications across a diversified international group.
- Real ownership, from technology scouting and experimentation to working prototypes and deployed solutions.
- Access to industrial environments, real operational challenges, and opportunities to collaborate with external technology partners.
- A fast-moving, collaborative environment with significant freedom to explore new approaches.
- Gross annual salary ranging from €45,000 to €60,000, plus a performance-based premio.
Compensation is tailored to your technical expertise, professional experience, and expected contribution.
- Flexible working hours and a hybrid work setup.
If you’re excited about giving AI the ability to perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the physical world — and you love building things that actually work — we’d love to hear from you.