Lead Experience Strategist

• Lead customer and user experience initiatives within ZEISS Digital Partners
• Own end-to-end delivery of UX projects from discovery to MVP and implementation
• Translate complex business, customer and user needs into scalable digital solutions
• Act as a strategic UX partner to ZEISS business units in complex domains (e.g. medical technology, microscopy, metrology)
• Manage multiple parallel projects and ensure alignment across stakeholders and teams
• Ensure high-quality outcomes across delivery, collaboration and stakeholder management
• Further develop and scale UX, Design Thinking and agile ways of working across ZEISS
• Build and manage partnerships and external agencies
• Support recruiting, capability development and network growth within the Design & Insights team

• Master's degree in Design or user-research-related field, or equivalent professional experience
• 8+ years of experience in UI/UX design, user research and innovation (agency or in-house)
• Proven ability to translate customer insights into strategy, MVPs and implementation
• Experience leading teams, projects or communities of practice
• Strong expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Solid understanding of product development, digital ecosystems and agile methodologies
• Knowledge of AI concepts, data-driven products and emerging technologies
• Experience working in interdisciplinary teams across design, business and technology
• Proficiency in UX research and design methods (interviews, surveys, field studies, co-creation)
• Hands-on experience with Design Thinking and user-centered design
• Strong storytelling and stakeholder management skills
• Experience with design systems, UI pattern libraries and tools such as Figma and Sketch
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and German
• Entrepreneurial mindset; start-up experience is a plus

ZEISS is technology, optics and innovation. We develop, manufacture and sell highly innovative products and solutions for our customers in a variety of business fields. As one of the world’s top technology companies with a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare and Smart Production, and a strong brand to boot, ZEISS is shaping the future far beyond the optics and optoelectronics industries. The company’s significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success, continued expansion and market leadership.