As Engineering Lead – AI & Automation at planqc, you will play a founding role in shaping how the company leverages automation and AI. You will build and lead a new engineering team from scratch, driving automation initiatives using established process automation tools and emerging AI- and agent-based approaches. Working closely with stakeholders across departments, you will deliver solutions that increase efficiency and enable new ways of working. This is a greenfield opportunity to combine technical leadership with entrepreneurial impact.

Key responsibilities

People Management

• Establish and grow a team of engineers and AI agents specializing in automation and AI solutions.
• Define roles, hiring strategy, and organizational setup for the new team.
• Hire, onboard, and retain top engineering talent.
• Run regular 1:1s, provide feedback, and mentor team members for career development.
• Foster a healthy, diverse, and collaborative team culture.

Technical & Project Management

• Identify automation opportunities across internal business processes and engineering workflows.
• Scout, evaluate, and adopt new AI and automation tools to ensure technological leadership.
• Design and implement scalable automation solutions using RPA, workflow orchestration platforms, and LLM-powered agents.
• Maintain high technical quality through reviews, testing, documentation, and guiding design discussions.
• Ensure effective execution through planning, prioritization, and clear communication with leadership.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (business, operations, engineering) to integrate automation into existing systems and processes.

Necessary requirements:

• 5+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 2–3 years in a leadership role.
• Strong technical background in software engineering, process automation, and applied AI/ML.
• Hands-on experience with automation frameworks (e.g., RPA tools, workflow orchestration) and modern AI technologies (e.g., LLMs, agent frameworks).
• Hands-on programming experience, ideally in Python, for building automation and AI solutions.
• Ability to prototype and deliver automation solutions directly, especially in the early phases.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with proven ability to build trust and motivate teams.
• Experience with vendor selection and integration of third-party automation/AI tools.
• Experience with project management practices and agile workflows.
• Fluent in English (German is a plus).
• Valid work permit for Germany or the EU.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with prior experience in a startup or research-driven environment.
• Passion for leveraging AI and automation to transform how people work.

Supplementary skills:

• Familiarity with quantum technologies.

planqc, founded in 2022 by scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ) and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), is a pioneering quantum computing startup based in Garching near Munich. We specialize in developing highly scalable neutral-atom quantum computers, utilizing individual atoms as qubits.

Here’s why you’ll love being part of our journey:

• Cutting-Edge Innovation: At planqc, you’ll work with state-of-the-art technology, using individual atoms as qubits to build highly scalable quantum computers. Our unique approach combines precision from the world’s best atomic clocks, quantum gas microscopes, and high-speed Rydberg gates. Together, we’re creating the fastest path to industry-relevant quantum advantage.
• Impactful Projects: Join us as we develop groundbreaking quantum systems and software, including a 1,000-qubit computer for the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ), a bespoke quantum computer for the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and quantum algorithms for several DLR projects.
• Empowered by Excellence: With notable advisors and board members like Hermann Hauser (founder of ARM) and Professor Ann-Kristin Achleitner, we’re guided by exceptional leadership. Our Series A funding of €50 million allows us to push boundaries and explore new horizons.
• Dynamic Work Culture: We value innovation, collaboration, and growth. Our team of around 50 brilliant minds works from locations in Garching, Ulm, and Innsbruck, fostering an environment where creativity meets ambition.
• Recognition and Growth: planqc’s achievements are celebrated globally. From winning the German Startup Award in 2023 to being named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2024, you’ll be part of a company that’s making history.
• Work-Life Synergy: Whether it’s through team events, after-work socials, or opportunities to attend quantum conferences worldwide, you’ll find a supportive community that values both your professional and personal growth.

At planqc, we harness the laws of quantum mechanics to build revolutionary computing systems. Our quantum computers store information in individual atoms — nature’s perfect qubits — and process it through scalable arrays manipulated by precisely controlled laser pulses. This groundbreaking technology is paving the way of redifining the future of computation but also enabling transformative applications across industries.
Our roots lie in decades of international research on neutral-atom quantum technologies. Building on the technology used in the world’s best atomic clocks combined with advanced quantum gas microscopes, and high-speed Rydberg gates, we’ve built a foundation for innovation that’s unmatched.
At the heart of planqc is a commitment to excellence, collaboration, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Whether you’re a quantum physicist, software engineer, or operations expert, you’ll find a place here to grow, contribute, and thrive.

Together, we’re not just imagining the future — we’re building it.