End-to-End Project Manager (f/m/x) @ Carl ZEISS Extended Reality (XRX)

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.

Join us today. Inspire people tomorrow.

Diversity is a part of ZEISS. We look forward to receiving your application silence of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, philosophy of life, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity.

Apply now! It takes less than 10 minutes. Own complex optical / optomechanical development programs from early customer or market need through concept, development, validation, industrialization, and ramp-up – ensuring delivery on scope, time, quality, and budget. Translate business and customer into clear program objectives, integrated roadmaps, and phased delivery plans in close alignment with Product Management, R&D, Operations, Quality, and Procurement. Lead cross‐functional, cross‐site teams, establish effective program governance (milestones, reviews, KPIs), and drive decision-making across all lifecycle phases – from sustainable to end-of-life. Manage risks, dependencies, and change requests proactively; implement mitigation plans and escalation paths, and ensure transparency to stakeholders and management. Secure readiness for each lifecycle gate (technical maturity, regulatory, manufacturing, supply chain, service) and orchestrate smooth handovers between development, and downstream functions. Serve as the primary contact for internal and, where applicable, external customers throughout the program, ensuring clear communication, expectation management, and sustainable partnership.

University degree in engineering, physics, optics, or a related technical field; additional training/certification in project/program management (e.g. IPMA, PMI, PRINCE2, Agile) is an advantage. Several years of experience in managing end‐to‐end development programs, ideally for optical, optoelectronic, or other complex mechatronic products in a high‐tech or MedTech/B2B environment. Strong understanding of the full product lifecycle (market need, requirements engineering, system design, verification/validation, industrialization, ramp‐up, lifecycle management). Proven track record in leading cross‐teams without direct line authority, with strong stakeholder, conflict‐management, and negotiation skills. Solid financial and business acumen (business case creation, budget responsibility, cost tracking, make‐or‐buy, ROI) and experience with program KPIs. Structured, analytical, and hands‐on working style; read to operate in dynamic environments and balance strategic view with day‐to‐day execution. Very good communication skills in English; German is a strong plus and willingness to work in an international, cross‐site context. .