(Senior) Project Manager Photonic Integrated Circuit (m/f/x)

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

Job summary

Carl Zeiss AG is seeking a seasoned Project Manager to drive photonic integrated circuit (PIC) development within a corporate-backed startup environment. You will lead complex PIC projects, manage external partnerships, and align team efforts with organizational goals in a fast-paced setting.

Ideal candidates bring 5+ years in project management, hands-on PIC experience, and strong German and English communication.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of practical experience in project management.
• Experience in photonic integrated circuits and related tech (waveguides, lithography, assembly).
• Proven project management experience, ideally with certification (PMP/IPMA).
• Very good written and spoken German and English.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex PIC development projects.
• Lead and manage external partnerships and initiatives in PICs.
• Provide professional leadership to the project team.
• Plan and monitor project resources (budget, time, people).
• Ensure adherence to quality standards and deadlines.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders across functions.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks.
• Continuously optimize project management processes and workflows.
• Report project progress to senior management.
• Manage procurement and contracts.

Skills

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

Team motivation

Communication skills

German language

English language

Education

Master's in Physics

Master's in Electrical Eng.

PMP certification

Job description

Your Role

Are you passionate about driving integrated photonic technologies into innovative products? Then, leverage your experience to help us unlock the immense business potential of photonic integrated circuits (PIC) – a market that is growing rapidly due to the demand for AI, faster communication, and novel types of sensors. ZEISS has started a major strategic initiative to establish an interdisciplinary team in a dynamic and agile startup environment. The corporate-backed startup will benefit from ZEISS’s ecosystem and its expertise in the field of photonics. You will play a key role in the design, simulation, and characterization of photonic components and systems. In this exciting opportunity, you will design state-of-the-art photonic integrated circuits and contribute to the realization of complex photonic systems.

Your role:

• Lead and manage complex photonic integrated circuit (PIC) development projects
• Lead and manage complex external partnerships and initiatives in the field of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs)
• Provide professional leadership to the project team
• Plan and monitor project resources (budget, time, people)
• Ensure adherence to quality standards and deadlines
• Work closely with internal and external stakeholders (development, production, marketing, customers, suppliers)
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks
• Continuously optimize project management processes and workflows
• Report project progress to senior management
• Manage procurement and contracts

Your Profile

• University degree (Master/Diploma) in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Microsystems Technology or a comparable field
• Five or more years of practical experience in project management
• Proven project management experience, ideally with relevant certification (e.g. PMP, IPMA)
• Experience in the field of photonic integrated circuits and relevant technologies like waveguide design, lithography, assembly, and connection technology is a plus
• Experience in systematic problem solving and strategic thinking
• Ability to align project goals with the overall objectives of the organization and to consider the long‑term implications of decisions
• Ability to motivate the team and foster a positive, collaborative working environment
• Strong communication, conflict resolution, and team working skills
• Leadership and professional communication skills
• Very good written and oral skills in German and English

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team: Friederike Kirklar-Harms

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.