Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d) Algorithm-Hardware Co-Design for Real-Time AI in Particle Physics

Belle II Upgrade Trigger Algorithm Developer

The position is embedded in our group at the Institute of Experimental Particle Physics (ETP), part of the Department of Physics at KIT. We work on trigger systems, tracking and physics analysis at the Belle II experiment. At the intersection of machine learning and real-time electronics, we develop algorithms and deploy them on FPGAs and other heterogeneous hardware. Our goal: trigger systems that process a large number of detector inputs within a tight latency budget and under high backgrounds, with algorithms designed together with the hardware they run on.

Your Tasks

Your tasks in detail:

• Development of trigger algorithms for the Belle II upgrade, covering drift chamber tracking, global tracking and the electromagnetic calorimeter.
• Taking these algorithms from design to running hardware, and leading the hardware deployment of our tracking work on AMD Versal.
• Close collaboration with electronics engineers on firmware and hardware integration, and with our algorithm team on algorithm development.
• Supervision of students and doctoral researchers.
• Collaboration with the Belle II trigger community and the ErUM-Data DEEP partners, and presentation of your work at collaboration meetings, international conferences and in scientific papers.
• If you have experience in this area, contributions to our work within DEEP on LLM-based agents for firmware development, verification or design-space exploration.

Your Profile

• You hold a PhD in physics, electrical engineering or a related field.
• You have developed firmware for FPGAs or comparable hardware, including your own implementations of machine learning models.
• You have experience with verification and debugging on hardware.
• You have a very good command of English.
• Knowledge of German at level B1 or above is preferred.
• Experience with any of the following is a plus: trigger or data acquisition systems in particle physics or a comparable real-time environment, reconstruction algorithms for tracking detectors or calorimeters, HLS, AMD Versal or AI Engines, LLM-based agents for firmware development.

We Offer

• Science for Impact: Engage with topics of societal relevance — in an excellent scientific environment that enables change.
• Career-Building and Developmental Opportunities: We provide you with a structured onboarding program, a broad spectrum of continuing-education options, and personalised support, thereby fostering your individual growth.
• Flexible Working Hours: Take advantage of flexible-hours schemes, remote-work options, and a 30-day annual leave entitlement to achieve an optimal work-life balance.
• Family-friendliness: The “KIT-Family +” program assists you in reconciling work and family life by offering childcare services, holiday activities, a parent-child office space, and assistance with caring for relatives.
• Stay Healthy: Under the motto “Fit at KIT – Body, Mind and Soul,” we promote your well-being through fitness classes and mental-health programmes.
• Individualised Extra Benefits: Enjoy a corporate pension (VBL), a €25 monthly contribution toward a JobTicket BW, plus a broad selection of cultural and recreational programmes.

Job location Karlsruhe (and Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen)

Salary Salary category 13 TV-L; classification is based on personal and professional qualifications.

Contract duration 2 years

For technical information, please contact Prof. Dr. Torben Ferbert orben.ferber@kit.edu

If you have general questions about the application process, please contact Raquel Carrasco Sanchez Personalservice (PSE) raquel.carrasco@kit.edu +49 721 608-42016

At KIT we value the diversity of our employees; different perspectives and backgrounds enrich our work. We therefore welcome applications from all candidates. Women are especially encouraged to apply. Applications from recognized severely disabled individuals are given preferential consideration when qualifications are equal.

Application up to: 2026-12-15 Job posting number: 1272/2026

Tagged as: Life Sciences