We’re looking for a hands-on Lead DevOpsEngineer to design, own, and scale the multi-cloud backbone of IQA – our AI-powered SaaS solution used by global manufacturers. You will be the technical owner of our multi-cloud infrastructure and data strategy. You’ll have real decision-making authority over our cloud architecture, infrastructure roadmap, and data engineering approach as we scale to serve more Fortune 500 enterprises. This is a hands-on leadership role where you lead through expertise and example, designing, building, and operating key systems while setting the technical direction.
Tasks
Infrastructure Strategy & Architecture
- Define and execute our multi-cloud infrastructure roadmap, making key decisions on technology selection and architecture patterns
- Own the technical strategy for our Kubernetes-based deployment infrastructure, creating flexible IaC approaches that can adapt to entirely different cloud providers (GCP, Azure, AWS) and on-premise setups dictated by our clients
- Build, deploy, and monitor many distinct deployments simultaneously using IaC, navigating complex corporate firewalls and enterprise compliance/policy regulations
- Interface with Fortune 500 IT and security teams, successfully translating their special corporate rules and installation regulations into repeatable deployment processes for our software.
DevOps Leadership
- Engineer the DevOps tooling and automation layers that streamline our data onboarding, allowing us to ingest heterogeneous customer data with minimal manual effort
- Own our infrastructure strategy including data (object storage, OLTP/OLAP, caching), CI/CD and orchestration
- Develop and optimise APIs and data processing systems using Python (Polars/FastAPI) to benefit from your infrastructure decisions
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with product and engineering leadership to translate business requirements into robust infrastructure capabilities
- Research and evaluate emerging technologies, making clear recommendations on when and how to adopt new tools
Requirements
Experience & Technical Depth
- 6+ years in software engineering, cloud infrastructure, or backend/data engineering roles, with a primary focus on Cloud Infrastructure/DevOps and Python proficiency and at least 2 years in a senior technical capacity where you made architectural decisions.
- Deep, hands-on expertise with adapting Kubernetes, and IaC frameworks (Terraform, OpenTofu, Pulumi) to work seamlessly across environments you do not fully control (client-provisioned GCP, Azure, AWS, or on-prem).
- Experience deploying software into external, highly regulated enterprise environments (e.g., navigating Fortune 500 compliance, InfoSec policies, and bespoke IT requirements). This role is focused on distributed deployment flexibility, instead of hyperscale cost optimization.
- Strong Python skills with modern data processing libraries (e.g. Polars) and API frameworks (FastAPI, etc.) and experience with TypeScript/React or Rust are a plus, not a requirement.
Strategic Thinking & Ownership
- Track record of making significant architectural decisions and seeing them through to production at scale.
- Strong sense of ownership – you care about outcomes, not just outputs, and you’re happy to roll up your sleeves.
- You prefer deep impact and technical leadership over pure people management.
Mission & Mindset
- Genuine interest in industrial manufacturing and B2B SaaS – we’re solving real problems for customers making physical products
- Entrepreneurial mindset: you enjoy building foundational systems that will support company growth over years
- Excellent organisational and communication skills – you can articulate complex technical decisions to non-technical stakeholders.
Team
We are a highly motivated team with a strong sense of ownership and passion for what we do. Our entrepreneurial mindset and commitment to innovation have enabled us to grow fast and shape the future of digital lean and green manufacturing. At ONIQ, culture is just as important as product. We foster an environment rooted in authenticity, diversity, integrity, and mutual respect - where everyone is encouraged to bring their whole self to work.
What We Offer in This Role
- True technical ownership with decision-making authority over infrastructure strategy
- Direct impact on our ability to serve manufacturing customers and scale the platform
- A culture built on transparency, integrity and authenticity – we trust and respect each other and make decisions based on competence
- A fast-paced, agile environment where you can take on as much responsibility as you feel ready for and actively shape our marketing and go-to-market
- A team that genuinely cares about collaboration and work culture: we regularly reflect on our teamwork, invest work time into team spirit and consciously create balance in everyday work
- The opportunity to contribute to fighting climate change by helping industrial manufacturers to become more efficient and to reduce their CO₂ emissions, while we are mindful of our own environmental impact as a carbon-neutral company
- All the benefits that make work more pleasant: flexible hours, part-time options, remote work possibilities, regular team events and offsites, 30 days PTO, weekly yoga sessions, Deutschlandticket, Urban Sports Club and more
Application Process
- Introductory Interview
- Technical Interview incl. coding assignment / test
- Interviews with our two CEOs, preferably on-site in Cologne
