Service & Programme Manager Commercial AI Projects (1,0 fte) AI Supercomputing Initiative Brabant

Introduction

Do you enjoy working at the intersection of advanced AI technology, complex stakeholder environments, and real-world impact? As Service & Programme Manager for Commercial AI Projects, you will play a central role in guiding companies and public organizations in Brabant from first contact to successful AI project execution on state-of-the-art supercomputing infrastructure. Beyond coordinating individual projects, you will also monitor the overall progress and impact of the AI SIB programme, safeguarding deliverables, financial accountability, and strategic alignment. If you combine strong technical insight with the ability to coordinate people, priorities, and expectations in an international and interdisciplinary setting then we are looking for you.

Artificial Intelligence is a key enabling technology for economic growth and societal progress, and a critical driver of transformation across industries, food systems, healthcare, energy, and security. Regions that invest early in high-quality computing infrastructure, talent development, and robust innovation ecosystems will define the competitive landscape of the future. Brabant benefits from excellent universities and universities of applied sciences, a strong technology-driven business community, and a favorable investment climate. However, significant potential remains untapped. By making targeted investments in High-Performance Computing and the development of applied AI expertise, the region can advance toward the level of Europe’s leading regions, further leverage its economic strengths, and position itself as a prominent AI hub.

To accelerate this ambition, Eindhoven University of Technology, Tilburg University, the Province of North Brabant, and the Brabant Development Agency (BOM) have joined forces in the AI Supercomputing Initiative Brabant (AI-SIB). This initiative provides Brabant-based companies, knowledge institutions, and public organizations with access to large-scale computing power and the associated expertise.

The AI ​​Supercomputing Initiative Brabant is designed as an ambitious multi-year program running until July 1st, 2028. The steering committee will decide on a possible continuation of the initiative.

Job Description

We are looking for a Service & Programme Manager to support the intake of AI projects of external organizations and companies in Brabant. You will work together with a business developer, a data steward to collect project information and to evaluate the potential of the projects before they are taken up by two ML engineers. We optimize the AI workloads on our NVIDIA DGX cluster called SPIKE. In addition to the operational service management tasks, the Service & Programme Manager plays a key role in monitoring the progress of the AI-SIB subsidy project, both content-wise and financially. You safeguard the timely realization of the agreed deliverables and report on progress, risks and financial status to the project leader and steering committee.
The project with companies and organizations in the province of Brabant will stretch out over a period of two years. If this collaboration is successful, there will be opportunities to continue working together with companies in Brabant. 

The job entails:

• Project intake and technical assessment:
  Lead the intake and evaluation of AI project proposals, assessing suitability for the SPIKE infrastructure (design, data quality, code readiness, required expertise). Ensure strong alignment and joint understanding before handover to the ML Engineers.
• Stakeholder and team coordination:
  Act as the primary technical liaison between external partners and the internal AI team. You ensure strong alignment and shared understanding by actively involving the team in refining work packages and minimizing handover gaps. In close collaboration with the Business Developer, you provide structured feedback to companies on project proposals and progress. You facilitate regular coordination meetings with ML Engineers, the Data Steward and the Business Developer (supported by the Operational Manager SCC) to evaluate and optimize the full project lifecycle from initial intake to final model delivery. In addition, you contribute to broader SCC team meetings, sharing insights from ongoing projects and supporting the overall growth and strategic development of the SCC.
• Project and subsidy monitoring:
  Monitor progress of individual AI projects as well as the AI-SIB subsidy programme, safeguarding timely delivery of agreed results. Report on content, risks and financial status to the project leader and steering committee.
• Knowledge development and programme growth:
  In cooperation with the Data Steward, create a first version of a knowledge database with project intake information, processing and results. You ensure delivery across three domains:
  • AI services to companies and public organizations;
  • Collaborative innovation leading to new knowledge;
  • Open knowledge sharing and community building.

Capture lessons learned and translate them into input for the long-term business case and continuation of AI SIB beyond 2028.

Job Requirements

We are looking for a new colleague with the following qualifications and characteristics:

• Experience with governance and organizational decision-making processes, including reporting to senior management, boards or steering committees.
• A good level of technical HPC expertise, HPC infrastructure and AI domain skills and knowledge, preferably also in non-academic/commercial organizations.
• Experience in acting as a primary technical contact person in the project, capable of setting direction, establishing priorities and adjusting course in a dynamic and politically sensitive environment.
• Proven ability to design, lead and monitor a coherent portfolio of interrelated projects, including scope, planning, budget, quality and risk management.
• The ability to produce results through a combination of strong inter-personal and technical skills.
• Have a holistic viewpoint, be value oriented and act as an inspirator, motivator and creator of relationships with others in working towards a defined goal.
• Communicative and collaboration-oriented, adaptive to the extent of being an excellent navigator in conflicts of interest and aiding the team in having the right focus.
• Strong and convincing Dutch and English communication skills.

Conditions of Employment

An exciting position within an international yet personal university. You are right in the middle of the students, on a green campus within walking distance of the central station. Besides beautiful architecture, you will find varied workplaces and excellent sports facilities. We also offer you:

• A monthly salary of minimum € 4,925 to maximum € 7,573 gross for full-time employment, depending on your knowledge and experience (scale 11 or 12 Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).
• In addition to vacation pay, a structural end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• A favorable arrangement for more holidays or a sabbatical.
• A selection model for additional fringe benefits.
• Working hours in consultation for an optimal work-life balance.
• Scope for your talent with advancement prospects and excellent development opportunities such as mentoring, workshops and coaching.
• Partially paid parental leave and reimbursement for commuting expenses, working from home and the internet.
• A generous employer contribution to the favorable ABP pension plan.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.

Here you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us

We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

The Supercomputing Centre of the Eindhoven University of Technology supports researchers, students and industry partners with computational needs. Both local and cloud solutions (national and international), as well as our own state-of-the-art AI cluster (NVIDIA DGX B200 technology) are available. 
 
We will now also start supporting companies to develop their AI products. In this project we collaborate with the Brabant Province, the Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM) and the Tilburg University.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to have more information about the position, please contact the hiring manager: Sandor Schmikli, Area Lead Research ([email protected]).

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact Ivo Uitdenbogaart, Recruiter ([email protected]).

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

If you are interested, please use the ‘apply’ button to send us your CV and letter of application with your motivation and a description of your qualifications. Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications.

Screening of candidates begins as soon as applications are received and continues until the position is filled. Where applicable, internal candidates will be given priority over external candidates where they are equally suitable.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Please note 

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Important for non-EU applicants: Please be aware that for this position, specific residence permit requirements apply. If you are a non-EU national, you may not be eligible to legally work in this role under current Dutch immigration regulations. We strongly advise you to contact our Staff Immigration Team ([email protected]) before applying to check your eligibility and to receive further guidance.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.