Program Manager / PhD (m/f/x) - Founder Programs

HPI Engine is the entrepreneurship ecosystem of the Hasso Plattner Institute, one of Europe’s leading hubs for digital entrepreneurship. With 300+ founders, 450+ startups, and over €1B in raised capital, we enable tech innovators to turn ideas into impactful ventures through education, mentorship, and community. Together with HPI Ventures, we support startups from first idea to global scale.

Your Role

• Empower Founders: Support committed founding teams in turning validated ideas into early ventures. Strengthen their entrepreneurial judgement, execution capability, and founder mindset
• Run the Incubator/ Venture Building: Lead and shape HPI Engine’s Incubator Program for Founders. Guide teams through intensive mentoring, milestone-driven progress, and hands-on venture building
• Enable Execution: Design and oversee structures that help teams move fast — from problem validation to first customers, MVPs, and go-to-market learning
• Connect the Ecosystem: Link founders with mentors, experts, alumni, and partners, and actively integrate them into the broader HPI Engine and startup ecosystem
• Build While Researching: Combine your external PhD research with hands-on startup incubation work, operating at the intersection of research, technology, and venture creation

Your Profile

• You hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Business, Computer Science, Economics, Education, or related fields (PhD eligibility required)
• You worked in a startup or bring experience in either innovation or entrepreneurship education
• You are passionate about empowering others and sharing entrepreneurial know-how
• You possess a strong sense of ownership, organization, and initiative
• You are fluent in English and confident in German

The position is designed for candidates who plan to pursue a PhD, and it is structured accordingly. PhD eligibility is therefore required. Potential candidates do not have to be enrolled in a PhD program at the time of their application to qualify for the role. Both internal and external PhD programs are possible.

What we offer

• The best of both worlds: grow your academic career while driving real-world impact
• Direct access to founders, investors, and the broader startup ecosystem
• Competitive salary, flexible hours, and up to two remote days per week
• A vibrant community at the intersection of tech, research, and entrepreneurship
• Regular team events and workshops
• For problems of any kind (including those in your private life), you can use our external employee counseling service free of charge
• Attractive employee offers (corporate benefits)
• Company-subsidized public transportation ticket/ Deutschlandticket
• Possibility to work remotely (up to 2 days a week)
• 30 days of vacation plus two additional days off on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
• Numerous sports facilities (tennis and basketball courts, beach volleyball court, calisthenics park, and participation in running events)
• Workplace on the HPI campus in Potsdam-Babelsberg (Griebnitzsee S-Bahn station), with fast transportation connections to Berlin

We look forward to receiving your application documents including salary requirements. Please apply exclusively via our career page.

Contact person HR-Recruiting

[email protected]

Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Digital Engineering gGmbH

Prof.-Dr.-Helmert-Str. 2-3

14482 Potsdam