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

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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

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Source: Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), table; dl-de/by-2-0; StarIn's calculation

Posted Oct 16, 2026

Posted Oct 30, 2026