Head of SW/AI Lab (m/f/d) - Heilbronn

TUM Venture Labs; Heilbronn; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Home-office options

Moovster mobility budget

Skill development budget

Wellpass membership

JobRad

Job summary

TUM Venture Labs in Heilbronn seeks a Head of SW/AI Lab to turn the site into the go-to hub for AI-driven deep tech startups. You will build the location, lead a small team, and attract researchers and entrepreneurs to collaborate on entrepreneurship programs.

You will mobilize science and guide founders from first idea to startup, expanding partnerships and refining our support offerings for startups. This is a strategic leadership role in a dynamic, research-forward environment.

Qualifications

• Must-have: Technical background in AI, computer science, data science, or related field; a PhD is a plus.
• Must-have: Startup experience—founded a company, worked in a startup, or worked with startups/spin-offs/tech transfer.
• Must-have: First leadership experience, e.g., team lead or founder.

Responsibilities

• Build the Heilbronn SW/AI Lab location and develop strategy with the Managing Director SW/AI.
• Lead a team of four people plus working students; set clear goals and enable growth.
• Mobilize science by engaging professors and researchers to collaborate with startups in AI and deep tech.
• Support founding teams from idea to founding and develop our offerings for startups.

Skills

AI/CS/Data science background

Startup experience

Leadership experience

Education

PhD preferred

Job description

Head of SW/AI Lab (m/f/d) - Heilbronn

Published November 13, 2026

TUM Venture Labs is a non-profit initiative of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Europe's top-ranked technical university, and UnternehmerTUM, Europe's leading center for innovation and entrepreneurship. We are building one of Europe's leading centers for entrepreneurship in deep tech and life sciences. In our domain-specific labs, we support deep tech founding teams from the first idea to investor readiness, with access to world-class research facilities, industry partners, mentors, and tailored programs. Our core mission: we empower the next generation of scientists and students to turn their research innovations into scalable, technology-based companies with global impact.

The TUM Venture Lab Software/AI operates at two locations, Munich and Heilbronn. For Heilbronn, we are looking for someone who will develop the location further, lead the local team, win over scientists in the field of AI for entrepreneurship, and support our startup teams on their journey.

Your Mission

Build the location: You turn the site into the go-to place for SW/AI deep tech startups in the region, build partnerships that carry projects, and expand our reach. Together with the Managing Director SW/AI and the Munich location, you develop the strategy and put it into action.

Lead the team: You lead a team of four people plus working students who are eager to move things forward. You set clear goals, give them room to run, and watch your team grow beyond what they thought possible.

Mobilize science: You get professors and chairs excited about working together and bring researchers in AI and deep tech out of the lab and into entrepreneurship.

Support founding teams: You are there from day one when a research idea becomes a startup. You guide teams from the first idea to founding, share your knowledge, and keep developing our support offerings for startups.

Your Profile

Must-have: Technical background in AI, computer science, data science, or a related field, a PhD is a plus. You are taken seriously as a peer in research circles, understand the trends and developments in the AI landscape and you are able to discuss with startups.

Must-have: Your own startup experience: You have founded a company, worked in a startup, or worked directly with startups, spin-offs, and technology transfer, and you can challenge our startups.

Must-have: First experience in a leadership role, for example as a team lead or founder.

Nice-to-have: Experience in the startup or technology transfer ecosystem.

Nice-to-have: An existing network at TUM or in the Heilbronn AI community.

What we offer

• Opportunity to turn TUM's entrepreneurial ecosystem into Europe's leading deep-tech innovation hub.
• A highly dynamic and well-connected work environment with inspiring talents, entrepreneurs, leaders, and experts in Heilbronn's start-up ecosystem.
• Flexible working hours and home-office options
• A flexible mobility budget via the Moovster app
• Budget to develop your personal and professional skills
• Option for a company-supported Wellpass membership and a JobRad

Carina Schreyer, Head of People & Culture

Lichtenbergstraße 6

85748 Garching bei München