Senior Innovation Manager Semicon Ecosystem (m/f/x)

Carl Zeiss AG; Dresden; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

ZEISS seeks a proactive, strategic enabler who translates emerging semiconductor technologies into innovation opportunities and business cases. You will bridge external ecosystems with ZEISS internal strategy while engaging the Silicon Saxony community and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.

You will own the innovation funnel, screen disruptive technologies, initiate PoC projects, and build partnerships with universities and research institutes.

Qualifications

• University degree in physics, engineering, materials science or equivalent field.
• 5+ years in innovation management, R&D or technology strategy in semiconductor or related deep-tech domains.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor technologies and value chains.
• Ability to translate technology trends into business impact.
• Experience in managing early-stage innovation projects.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate market- and technology-relevant trends in semiconductors.
• Own and manage the innovation and project funnel for opportunities from the Silicon Saxony ecosystem.
• Screen and validate disruptive technologies; initiate PoC projects.
• Provide structured recommendations for follow-up activities.
• Represent ZEISS within Silicon Saxony; build relationships with semiconductor companies, startups, and research initiatives.
• Monitor ecosystem developments and derive strategic implications for ZEISS.
• Establish and manage partnerships with TU Dresden, Fraunhofer, Leibniz institutes, etc.
• Initiate joint research, thesis projects, and collaborative formats; enable access to academic talent pipelines.
• Contribute to ZEISS Technology Strategy and SMT Technology Roadmap.
• Ensure alignment between external insights and internal priorities; participate in governance formats.
• Support SteerCo processes: project prioritization, action planning, and reporting of scouting activities.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Initiative and ownership

Entrepreneurial mindset

Ability to translate trends to impact

Analytical thinking

Program/innovation management

Education

Master/PhD in Physics, engineering, materials science or comparable fields

Job description

ZEISS is seeking a proactive, strategic enabler who identifies and translates emerging semiconductor technologies into innovation opportunities, projects, and business cases. You will bridge external innovation ecosystems with ZEISS internal strategy and development, actively engaging the Silicon Saxony community and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.

Your Role

• Identify and evaluate market- and technology-relevant trends in semiconductors (e.g., Lithography & chiplet technologies, advanced packaging, integrated photonics, inspection & metrology, 2D materials).
• Own and manage the innovation and project funnel for new opportunities arising from the Silicon Saxony ecosystem.
• Screen and validate disruptive technologies; initiate and steer technology validation / PoC projects.
• Provide structured recommendations for follow-up activities.
• Represent ZEISS within the Silicon Saxony ecosystem; build and maintain relationships with semiconductor companies, startups, and research initiatives.
• Monitor ecosystem developments and derive strategic implications for ZEISS.
• Establish and manage partnerships with TU Dresden, Fraunhofer, Leibniz institutes, etc.
• Initiate and supervise joint research, thesis projects, and collaborative innovation formats; enable access to academic talent pipelines.
• Contribute to ZEISS Technology Strategy and SMT Technology Roadmap.
• Ensure alignment between external insights and internal priorities and capabilities; participate in governance formats (radar, roadmap processes).
• Support SteerCo processes: project prioritization, action planning, and reporting of scouting activities; coordinate follow-up actions.

Your Profile

• University degree (Master/PhD) in: - Physics, engineering, materials science or comparable fields
• 5+ years of experience in: - Innovation management, R&D, or technology strategy - Semiconductor or related deep-tech domains
• Strong understanding of semiconductor technologies and value chains
• Ability to translate technology trends into business impact
• Experience in managing early-stage innovation projects
• Strong analytical and structured thinking
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• High degree of initiative and ownership
• Entrepreneurial mindset and affinity for uncertainty and exploratory work

Step out of your comfort zone, excel and redefine the limits of what is possible. That’s just what our employees are doing every single day – in order to set the pace through our innovations and enable outstanding achievements. After all, behind every successful company are many great fascinating people. In a spacious modern setting full of opportunities for further development, ZEISS employees work in a place where expert knowledge and team spirit reign supreme. All of this is supported by a special ownership structure and the long-term goal of the Carl Zeiss Foundation: to bring science and society into the future together. Join us today. Inspire people tomorrow.

Diversity is a part of ZEISS. We look forward to receiving your application regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, philosophy of life, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity.