(Senior) Engineering Program Manager IPAI (m/f/d)

Introduction text

Artificial intelligence is the key technology of the future and will enable us to solve the challenges of the coming decades. The German economy can only maintain its competitiveness and actively shape sustainable and ethical values if it creates a leading position in value creation in the field of AI. This transformation will succeed through collaboration in the ecosystem - by pooling resources. IPAI wants to be this platform. We promote value creation in the field of AI, connect application and transformation partners and create joint user cases. To this end, we are building a place where ideas can be rethought, tried out and learned anew. All with the aim of developing new business ideas and models through AI solutions, based on the foundations of sustainability, digital responsibility and European sovereignty.

You ensure that IPAI’s engineering efforts are focused on the right problems, translated into coherent solution strategies, and executed with consistency and momentum. You work with peers across engineering, partnerships, research, and leadership to turn fragmented needs from the ecosystem into clear priorities, actionable roadmaps, and reliably delivered outcomes.

Your tasks

• Cut through ambiguity by synthesizing ecosystem needs, leadership intent, and technical constraints into clear problem statements, priorities, and success criteria.
• Shape solution direction and roadmaps together with engineering and domain leads, aligning near-term deliverables with longer-term platform and ecosystem goals.
• Own end-to-end execution of key initiatives, defining scope, milestones, dependencies, and decision points, and driving progress from concept through delivery.
• Establish and maintain execution discipline by setting a clear development cadence, tracking risks and trade-offs, and resolving blockers proactively.
• Act as the central coordination and communication hub across teams and stakeholders, ensuring shared understanding, timely decisions, and transparent status.
• Continuously raise the bar for focus and effectiveness within the engineering organization by improving planning, prioritization, and cross-functional ways of working.

Your profile

• Several years of experience as an Engineering Program Manager, Technical Program Manager, Product Manager, or in a comparable role in complex, technology-driven environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives that span multiple teams and stakeholders, from early definition to delivery.
• Experience with platform, infrastructure, or developer-facing products is a strong plus; exposure to AI or data-centric systems is desirable.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to reduce complexity and drive clear decisions.
• Technical fluency that enables effective collaboration with engineers and researchers without requiring hands-on coding.
• Excellent execution skills: structured, reliable, and comfortable driving multiple workstreams in parallel.
• Clear, concise communicator in English, capable of aligning diverse audiences around shared goals.
• High ownership mindset and comfort operating in ambiguous, evolving environments.