PhD - Predictive Occupancy World Models for End-to-End Autonomous Driving

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Bosch Corporate Research in Hildesheim is seeking a creative PhD candidate to develop a generic predictive occupancy model as the core representation of driving scenes, design architectures that capture geometry and semantics for 4D world dynamics, and explore end-to-end driving systems where decisions are grounded in these models. You will build state-of-the-art perception pipelines, test in simulation and with real data, and publish at leading AI and robotics venues. Ideal candidates hold an excellent master’s in CS, Robotics, AI or Data Science and are eligible for doctoral studies; they bring deep learning, CV, PyTorch, Python, and preferably experience with 3D CV, occupancy networks, world models, sensor fusion, CARLA. Start September 2026, onsite in Hildesheim; apply with CV and certificates. Tips: tailor your CV to highlight transferable projects, emphasize ownership, collaboration, and safety focus, and prepare to discuss architecture decisions and publications; German language is a plus.

Company Description

At Bosch, we shape the future by inventing high-quality technologies and services that spark enthusiasm and enrich people’s lives. Our promise to our associates is rock-solid: we grow together, we enjoy our work, and we inspire each other. Join in and feel the difference.

The Robert Bosch GmbH is looking forward to your application!

Job Description

The Corporate Research division is the heart of our innovation. You will be part of the Bosch Research Computer Vision and AI Lab in Hildesheim, Germany, at the forefront of developing the next generation of autonomous systems. We are looking for a passionate and creative PhD candidate to join our team and help shape the future of AI-driven mobility.

• You will develop a generic predictive occupancy model as the core representation of the driving scene, designing architectures that capture the geometry and semantics of all objects to enable an explicit understanding of 4D world dynamics.
• Furthermore, you will research, implement, and evaluate novel end-to-end (E2E) driving architectures based on predictive occupancy world models, ensuring robust situational awareness and safe navigation.
• You will develop state-of-the-art perception systems that seamlessly transform raw sensor data into rich spatial representations and driving actions, bridging the gap between perception and automated driving.
• As part of this role, you will create architectures in which driving decisions are directly based on predictive occupancy world models, ensuring spatially grounded and reliable actions.
• Last but not least, you will rigorously test your models in simulation and with real-world data, demonstrating improvements in safety, transparency, and performance, and you will publish your findings at leading AI and robotics conferences.

Qualifications

• Education: excellent master's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or a related field that qualifies you for doctoral studies
• Experience and Knowledge: strong expertise in Deep Learning and Computer Vision (CV), hands-on experience with modern deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch), and proven Python programming skills; experience in 3D Computer Vision, Occupancy Networks, End-to-End (E2E) Driving, World Models, or Sensor Fusion is highly desirable; familiarity with autonomous driving datasets and simulation environments (e.g., CARLA) is considered an advantage
• Personality and Working Practice: you are a creative and self-driven researcher who enjoys taking ownership of challenging topics, developing innovative ideas comes naturally to you, and you thrive both independently and in technical discussions with colleagues
• Enthusiasm: you have a genuine passion for solving fundamental AI challenges and are driven to build systems that are not only intelligent but also trustworthy and safe
• Languages: excellent English skills, German is an advantage

Additional Information

https://www.bosch-ai.com
www.bosch.com/research

The final PhD topic is subject to your university.

Start: September 2026

Please submit all relevant documents (incl. curriculum vitae, certificates).

Diversity and inclusion are not just trends for us but are firmly anchored in our corporate culture. Therefore, we welcome all applications, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, ethnic origin or sexual identity.

Need support during your application?
Celina Dannecker (Human Resources)
+49 711 811 21346

Need further information about the job?
Holger Janßen (Functional Department)
+49 5121 49 2102
Fabian Gigengack (Functional Department)
+49 5121 49 2240
Simon Roesler (Functional Department)
+49 5121 49 2927 

Work #LikeABosch starts here: Apply now!