ML Engineer (Computer Vision & VLM)

Orcrist is building a next generation data intelligence platform using cutting-edge technologies. We're handling petabyte-scale data with sub-second queries. Our product is a Kubernetes‑based platform delivered as B2B SaaS or as a self‑hosted on‑prem solution, including air‑gapped deployments. We enable customers across defense, law enforcement, and enterprise to turn mission-critical data into actionable intelligence.

Role

We are looking for a hands-on Machine Learning Engineer to develop and productionize modern computer vision and visual language capabilities across major intelligence and public safety projects. You will work directly with state-of-the-art and open-source computer vision models, visual language models (VLMs), and related AI technologies — training, evaluating, fine-tuning, and optimizing them for real-world use cases.

You will work on challenging problems including object recognition and identification, image and document understanding, geospatial data, satellite imagery, and large-scale visual data. The role combines model development with practical engineering: building data pipelines and scrapers, running experiments, and taking promising approaches into reliable systems.

This is a highly hands-on role for someone with exceptional learning ability, strong analytical and engineering skills, and a genuine interest in applying AI to complex problems in the intelligence and public safety domain. You will work closely with other engineers, technical leadership, and cross-functional teams to turn ideas and experiments into impactful capabilities.
What you’ll do

- Develop, train, evaluate, and fine-tune computer vision and visual language models.

- Work on object recognition, detection, classification, and identification.

- Build data pipelines, scrapers, and workflows for large-scale visual and geospatial datasets.

- Experiment with state-of-the-art and open-source models and turn promising approaches into reliable systems.

- Work with satellite imagery, geospatial data, sensors, and other visual intelligence sources.

- Take ownership of experimental projects and rapidly explore new ideas and technologies.

- Collaborate closely with other engineers and technical leadership on key initiatives.

- Travel every 2–4 weeks for architecture reviews and team events.

About you

- Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or a related field; with excellent grade record from a leading university (Master's preferred).

- Strong academic record and excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

- Strong programming skills and experience developing or fine-tuning AI/ML models.

- Experience with computer vision, VLMs, image understanding, or related ML applications.

- Strong interest in data, analytics, and data pipelines.

- Exceptional ability and motivation to learn new technologies and domains quickly.

- Self-directed, hands-on, and comfortable working without close day-to-day management.

- Strong team player with clear and honest communication.

- Excellent German language skills.

- Eligible to work full-time in Germany and willing to undergo the required security clearance and background checks.

Nice-to-haves

- Experience with georeferencing, satellite imagery, remote sensing, OpenStreetMap, or photogrammetry.

- Experience with large-scale data pipelines, cloud infrastructure, or ML deployment.

- Experience with sensors such as drones, antennas, or cameras.

- Background in computer vision research, e.g. Fraunhofer IGD or similar.

- Knowledge of Russian or Ukrainian language.

- Interest or experience in military, intelligence, defense, or public safety domains.

What we offer

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Remote-first, Germany-wide: Work from wherever you do your best work, with regular team gatherings in Berlin and other off-site locations.

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Flexibility by default: Flexible working hours help you make work fit your life.

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Your setup, your way: Get a personal home-office