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

ZEISSOberkochenstepstonepublished 10/13/2026
Must-have:AISeniorLead

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.

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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

Contact

Friederike Kirklar-Harms