Karel completed his undergraduate studies in mechatronic engineering, followed by a research master's degree and PhD, at Stellenbosch University (South Africa). After completing his PhD in 2018, he was appointed as a senior lecturer in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University and was co-leader of the Mechatronics, Automation and Design Research Group.
He joined the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge in May 2024 as an Associate Professor in Automation Systems.