Zeiss

Corporate venture capital for deep-tech startups

Senior Scientist - AI-Driven Optical System Development

Program ManagementConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeNo salary listedIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A PhD in Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field is required.
Several years of experience leading complex technical projects are required.
Strong expertise in optics, simulation, machine learning, or scientific computing is required.
The candidate must be able to structure and manage complex topics.
Experience in stakeholder and interface management is required.
The candidate must communicate effectively across organizational levels.
The candidate must have a strategic mindset with a hands-on execution focus.
The candidate must demonstrate initiative and team orientation.

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate innovation-driven technical projects in model-, data-, and AI-driven design workflows.
Define project goals, milestones, and deliverables in close alignment with key stakeholders.
Drive stakeholder management across business units, functions, and organizational levels.
Ensure technical consistency and quality of developed solutions.
Facilitate and steer interdisciplinary teams comprising scientists, software engineers, and system engineers.
Identify dependencies, synergies, and risks within complex project landscapes.
Support the transfer of research results into sustainable industrial applications.
Contribute to continuous improvement of methods and best practices in technical project leadership.

Your Role

You are passionate about combining scientific excellence with technical leadership and want to actively shape the transformation towards AI-driven development workflows? In this role, you will take on a central position in leading and coordinating innovative projects in the field of optical system design. As a Senior Scientist (m/f/x), you act as a key interface between research, development, and application. You ensure that complex, interdisciplinary initiatives are executed efficiently, purposefully, and aligned with strategic objectives. A strong focus of your role will be effective stakeholder management across the ZEISS Innovation Ecosystem.

Your Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate innovation-driven technical projects in the area of model-, data-, and AI-driven design workflows
Define project goals, milestones, and deliverables in close alignment with key stakeholders
Drive stakeholder management across business units, functions, and organizational levels
Ensure technical consistency and quality of developed solutions
Facilitate and steer interdisciplinary teams comprising scientists, software engineers, and system engineers
Identify dependencies, synergies, and risks within complex project landscapes
Support the transfer of research results into sustainable industrial applications
Contribute to continuous improvement of methods and best practices in technical project leadership

Your Profile

PhD in Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
Several years of experience in leading complex technical projects
Strong expertise in optics, simulation, machine learning, or scientific computing
Proven ability to structure and manage complex topics
Experience in stakeholder and interface management
Excellent communication skills across organizational levels ZEISS classification: Confidential
Strategic mindset with hands-on execution focus
High level of initiative and team orientation

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team:

Friederike Kirklar-Harms, Selina Riccio

About the Company

Zeiss

Corporate venture capital for deep-tech startups

ZEISS Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of the ZEISS Group, investing in deep-tech startups that align with its core business areas. It focuses on early-stage rounds (pre-Series A to Series A), typically $1–$5 million, across Information Technology, Industrial Tech, MedTech, and Life Sciences. It adds value by providing targeted funding and using ZEISS’s global network and expertise to support portfolio companies. The goal is to accelerate development of new technologies and business models that complement ZEISS’s portfolio, while actively engaging with external innovation.

Company size: 1,001-5,000
Company stage: Growth Equity (Non-Venture Capital)
Total funding: $69.9M
Headquarters: Oberkochen, Germany
Founded: 2001

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