Senior Scientist (m/f/x) AI-Driven Optical System Development

Carl Zeiss Vision Canada Inc.; Jena; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

CZEISS is seeking a Senior Scientist to lead and coordinate innovation-driven projects in optical system design, bridging research, development, and application. You will manage interdisciplinary teams and ensure alignment with strategic objectives while advancing AI-driven workflows.

The role emphasizes stakeholder engagement, technical leadership, and a proactive, initiative-driven mindset within ZEISS Innovation ecosystems.

Qualifications

• PhD in physics, engineering, CS or related field.
• Several years of experience 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 across organizational levels.
• Strategic mindset with hands-on execution.
• Team orientation with high initiative.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate innovation-driven technical projects in model-, data-, and AI-driven design workflows.
• Define project goals, milestones, and deliverables 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 of 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.

Skills

Project leadership

Optics & simulation

Machine learning

Education

PhD in Physics, Engineering, or Computer Science

Job description

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