Full-Time
Lead Software Architect
Updated on 9/12/2026
Zeiss
1,001-5,000 employees
Corporate venture capital for deep-tech startups
No salary listed
Oberkochen, Germany
Remote
Bachelor's, PhD
 Software Engineering |
|---|
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- A degree in computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, physics, or a comparable field, and several years of professional experience in software development.
- Several years of experience in software architecture and design for complex systems or machines in industrial metrology, automation, or related high-tech domains.
- Profound knowledge of designing modular, distributed, and high-reliability software systems, including interface and application programming interface design.
- Practical experience with modern programming languages and technologies relevant to machine control and data processing, such as C++, C#, and Python, as well as version control, continuous integration and continuous delivery, and testing.
- Experience in hardware-software co-development, ideally in close collaboration with system engineering, electronics, and controls.
- Experience with software development processes and methods, such as agile development, V-model, or hybrid approaches, and corresponding toolchains.
- Very good English skills.
- Willingness to travel.
- Take technical ownership of the overall software architecture for an X-ray-based 3D inspection and metrology system for semiconductor wafers.
- Define and evolve a modular, scalable, and maintainable software architecture covering system control, data acquisition, data processing, user interface, and integration into fab environments.
- Collaborate with the Lead Systems Engineer to enable hardware-software co-development and align system architecture, control concepts, and data flows across all layers.
- Translate system and customer requirements into software requirements, components, and interfaces, and ensure traceability throughout the development lifecycle in collaboration with product management and product architects.
- Define and maintain internal and external software interface specifications, communication protocols, and data models.
- Guide the selection and use of technologies, frameworks, and development tools in alignment with ZEISS standards and long-term product strategy.
- Drive and coordinate software design reviews, code quality measures, and architectural governance with development teams.
- Define and support software integration, testing, and deployment strategies, including automated testing and continuous integration and continuous delivery concepts where applicable.
- Collaborate with product management, system engineering, and other disciplines to balance performance, robustness, usability, cybersecurity, and maintainability.
- Assess and mitigate software-related technical risks, support effort estimations, and manage architectural change requests.
- Act as the technical contact for software architecture within the project and represent software in reviews, design boards, and customer or partner discussions.
- Foster technical excellence, clean architecture, and continuous improvement within software development teams.
- A PhD is a plus.
- Experience in the semiconductor environment is an advantage.
- Experience with C++, C#, Python, or comparable modern programming languages and technologies.
- Experience in hardware-software co-development with system engineering, electronics, and controls.
ZEISS Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of the ZEISS Group, investing in deep-tech startups in Information Technology, Industrial Tech, MedTech, and Life Sciences. It backs early-stage companies at pre-Series A to Series A with typical investments of $1–5 million. The fund provides capital and tailored funding solutions, leveraging ZEISS’s global network and optics/optoelectronics expertise to support portfolio companies. Its goal is to accelerate the 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
$67.7M
Headquarters
Oberkochen, Germany
Founded
2001
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- ZEISS Ventures led SeeTrue's €2.2 million round on 2026-08-05, reinforcing eye-tracking leadership.
- ZEISS backed Maculaser and Custom Surgical in 2026, deepening ophthalmology innovation pipelines.
- ZEISS launched Otus ML 1.4/35, Panoptes 65, and DuraVision Plus in 2026.
What critics are saying
- ZEISS Meditec plans up to 1,000 job cuts through 2028/29 after 5.7% revenue decline.
- ProfitUp requires over €150m restructuring costs, signaling weak margins and execution strain.
- If ophthalmology turnaround fails, ZEISS Meditec drags group cash flow and venture appetite.
What makes Zeiss unique
- ZEISS Ventures backs deep-tech tied to ZEISS optics, medtech, and industrial workflows.
- ZEISS brings distribution, engineering, and clinical validation to early startups like Custom Surgical.
- ZEISS spans lenses, microscopy, and eye care, creating cross-selling across adjacent markets.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Paid Vacation
Performance Bonus
Company News
ZEISS Medical Technology has launched a cataract-only configuration of its DORC EVA NEXUS ophthalmic surgical system. The system features a cataract grade selection with up to four programmable presets, allowing surgeons to optimise phaco, aspiration, and irrigation settings for each surgical step. The solution includes VacuFlow VTi pump, SMART IOP, and EVA EQUIPHACO technologies, designed to provide streamlined performance, stability, and control during procedures. It integrates with the ZEISS Cataract Workflow portfolio. The system debuted at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons congress in London. It will become available in select European countries from September 2026, with global rollout pending regulatory approvals. The technology expands ZEISS's existing EVA NEXUS platform, which previously focused on retina workflows.
ZEISS Medical Technology announced FDA 510(k) clearance for ZEISS CLINIC 360, a cloud-based software solution that aggregates ophthalmic clinical data and provides advanced analytics. The browser-based platform combines diagnostic and medical data into a comprehensive patient view, helping clinicians evaluate disease progression and support treatment decisions. The solution integrates data from DICOM-enabled diagnostic devices, including ZEISS's CIRRUS, CLARUS and HFA systems, as well as third-party devices. It features disease-based summaries, interactive analysis tools, and collaboration capabilities through ZEISS Collaborative Care. ZEISS CLINIC 360 will be available in the US in early autumn 2026 on a subscription basis with low upfront costs. The platform complements ZEISS FORUM, the company's on-premise data management system, giving providers flexibility in choosing their preferred infrastructure approach.
ZEISS Ventures led a €2.2 million investment round in SeeTrue Technologies, a Finnish deep-tech company developing miniaturised eye-tracking technology. The funding will accelerate commercialisation of SeeTrue's ultra-low-power eye-sensing architecture for next-generation interfaces in smart optical systems and eyewear. SeeTrue's proprietary technology combines miniaturised sensing hardware with optimised embedded processing, enabling scalable eye-sensing capabilities with low power consumption and small hardware footprint. The technology supports gaze-based interaction and attention-aware computing across healthcare, industrial, and smart eyewear applications. The investment round includes participation from Superhero Capital and North Karelia Growth Fund, managed by Redstone Nordics. Founded in 2018 and based in Joensuu, Finland, SeeTrue develops ultra-miniature eye-tracking technology for medical optical systems, vision care, and smart wearables.
ZEISS Medical Technology has announced successful early clinical implantations of its AT LUCIA toric 721P intraocular lens, designed to treat cataracts whilst correcting astigmatism. The company is conducting an early-access clinical trial with experienced surgeons across six European countries. The lens combines an aspheric bitoric optic with a patented non-constant aberration design on a fully preloaded, hydrophobic platform. Surgeons have reported positive early impressions, highlighting the lens's precision, stability and surgical handling. Currently CE marked, the AT LUCIA toric 721P will be showcased at the International Congress of German Ophthalmic Surgery in Nuremberg from 18–20 June 2026. The lens is expected to be commercially available in select European countries later this year.
ZEISS Ventures has invested in Maculaser, a Finnish medtech company developing temperature-controlled retinal laser therapy, through a funding round co-led with M2care. The investment will support clinical development of the company's personalized treatment for retinal diseases. Founded in 2020 and based on research from Aalto University, Maculaser has developed patented technology that provides real-time temperature control during laser treatment. The non-damaging approach activates natural cellular defence mechanisms, targeting affected retinal areas early to delay or prevent progression of age-related macular degeneration and diabetic maculopathy. The technology aims to shift retinal care from managing late-stage damage to proactive vision preservation, offering an outpatient procedure that integrates into regular eye care. Maculaser plans to bring the treatment into clinical practice to benefit millions of patients worldwide.