Head of AI Applications (f/m/x)

Your Role:Technical LeadershipShape the future AI & GenAI tech stack at ZEISS by mapping state-of-the-art technology to ZEISS business needs – ensuring scalability, maintainability and cost-effectivenessConsult teams in Zeiss Digital Partners and beyond regarding AI & GenAI technologies and implementationSolution DeliveryLead technical project streams through the whole lifecycle, from PoC to fully operational and scaled solutions within an agile framework, ensuring high quality and efficient development, while adhering to ZEISS standards (regulatory, ethical, security)Continuously advance best-practices in application development and drive delivery excellenceOwn and drive scoping, budgeting, staffing and stakeholder management for technical project streamsTeam Empowerment & DevelopmentSupport project teams with guidance, prioritization and problem solving as neededEmpower the teams so they are setup for success and can deliver to promiseStep-in in case of escalations or conflictsEnsure balanced workloads and appropriate task allocationPromote a culture of innovation, learning, and inclusion aligned with company values and keep the teams' motivation highCommunication & Stakeholder AlignmentFacilitate clear communication and responsibilities between SBUs, ZDP teams, and AI expertsEnsure all project sponsors and client-side management understands scope, risks and limitations of joint projects / solutions via clear and effective expectation-managementEnsure all team members understand business context and client requirementsTeam LeadershipLeading, motivating, assessing, controlling and developing team members in accordance with ZEISS management and leadership principlesEnsuring the necessary employee qualificationsPropose salary adjustments and participate in decisions on individual personnel measures (in coordination with the HR department)Implement measures for the efficient design of structures and processes in the teamYour Profile:An excellent university degree (PhD is a plus) in natural science, mathematics, computer science, engineering or similarSeveral years of professional experience in building and delivering AI & GenAI applications in an enterprise contextProven ability to lead diverse development teamsLeadership & Decision MakingAbility to lead with clarity in a fast-paced environment with high uncertainty and ambiguityExperience in leading agile development and product teamsAbility to enable and empower the development teams, providing guidance, support and prioritization as needed, so they can work effectivelyTechnical ExpertiseDeep technical understanding of foundational and large language models, the Microsoft AI tech stack, and agentic frameworks like LangChain or AutoGenVery strong technical skills, from solution architecture to hands-on software development (Python, Git, DevOps)Business acumenAbility cut through hype and identify most promising and impactful use cases while sorting out noiseStrong business acumen, understanding relevant aspects of AI- and data-driven business modelsAbility to translate customer needs into effective technical solutionsInterpersonal & communication skillsOpen-minded, flexible and proven ability to successfully work with interdisciplinary and international teams – across teams and departmentsStrong communication and presentation skills, and the ability to drive decision making from operational to CxO levelAbility to easily navigate corporate, as well as managerial / business and tech environmentsFluent English and advanced German language skillsYour ZEISS Recruiting Team:Markus Repp #J-18808-Ljbffr