Head of AI Applications

Responsibilities

• Shape the future GenAI tech stack at ZEISS by mapping state‐of‐the‐art technology to ZEISS business needs.
• Consult teams in ZDP and beyond regarding GenAI technologies and implementation.
• Lead technical project streams through the whole lifecycle, from PoC to fully operational and scaled solutions within an agile framework.
• Own and drive scoping, budgeting, staffing and stakeholder management for technical project streams.
• Support project teams with guidance, prioritization and problem solving as needed.
• Ensure balanced workloads and appropriate task allocation.
• Promote a culture of innovation, learning, and inclusion aligned with company values.
• Facilitate clear communication and responsibilities between SBUs, ZDP teams, and AI experts.
• Ensure all project sponsors and client‐side management understands scope, risks and limitations of joint projects / solutions.
• Lead, motivate, assess, control and develop team members in accordance with ZEISS management and leadership principles.

Requirements

• An excellent university degree (PhD is a plus) in natural science, mathematics, computer science, engineering or similar.
• Several years of professional experience in building and delivering (Gen)AI applications in an enterprise context.
• Proven ability to lead diverse development teams.
• Ability to lead with clarity in a fast‐paced environment with high uncertainty and ambiguity.
• Experience in leading agile development and product teams.
• Deep technical understanding of foundational and large language models, the Microsoft AI tech stack, and agentic frameworks like LangChain or AutoGen.
• Very strong technical skills, from solution architecture to hands‐on software development (Python, Git, DevOps).
• Strong business acumen, understanding relevant aspects of AI‐and data‐driven business models.
• Ability to translate customer needs into effective technical solutions.
• Open‐minded, flexible and proven ability to successfully work with interdisciplinary and international teams – across teams and departments.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, and the ability to drive decision making from operational to CxO level.
• Fluent English and advanced German language skills.

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in leading GenAI application development within an enterprise context, leveraging strong technical skills in Python, Git, and DevOps. Capable of managing diverse teams and driving project success through effective communication and stakeholder management.