Find the right Heads of Development in Germany in minutes from 15,000 CVs with the power of AI
Bring in a Head of Development for software roadmaps, engineering team leadership, delivery governance, and scaling product or platform work. Ideal for organisations that need a development director, engineering lead, or technical lead who can align code, people, and delivery. Fast, precise matching with vetted, available freelancers.
About the role
What they do
A Head of Development steers the full development function. They turn product goals into a delivery plan, shape team structure, and keep engineering work moving with clear priorities. In many companies they act as the bridge between product, design, operations, and senior leadership.
Typical work
- Set the technical direction for software or digital product development
- Lead developers, tech leads, and engineering managers through delivery
- Improve planning, code quality, release flow, and delivery ownership
- Coordinate with product, architecture, and infrastructure teams
- Unblock complex projects, legacy systems, and cross-team dependencies
- Support hiring, team setup, and performance feedback
Core skills
Strong Heads of Development combine delivery control with people leadership. They know how to manage roadmaps, estimate effort, challenge weak assumptions, and keep teams focused without slowing them down. They should understand modern software architecture, agile methods, DevOps practice, and the realities of running multiple streams of work at once.
Common tools and environments include Jira, Confluence, Git-based workflows, CI/CD pipelines, cloud platforms, and standard reporting for stakeholders. Some work mainly with web products, others with enterprise systems, mobile apps, or data-heavy platforms.
When companies hire one
Companies bring in a freelance Head of Development when they need senior leadership without a permanent hire. This is common during growth, reorganisation, product recovery, major releases, or a leadership gap. In Germany, it is especially useful when local teams need clear coordination across business units, development centres, and external vendors.
What good looks like
A strong Head of Development makes decisions visible and keeps the team aligned on outcomes, not just tasks. They communicate in a direct way, know when to delegate, and can move from strategic planning to hands-on issue resolution.
- Clear ownership of priorities and delivery
- Calm handling of conflict, risk, and change
- Practical understanding of architecture and team throughput
- Strong stakeholder communication in German or English, depending on the setup
- Ability to step into interim leadership and leave a stable setup behind
Search terms and fit
Many companies also search for a development director, engineering lead, or software development manager when they need this profile. The exact title matters less than the scope: leading people, guiding delivery, and keeping technical decisions tied to business needs. For freelancers, the best assignments are usually those where the mandate is clear and the owner wants senior input from day one. Looking for a development director or engineering lead for Germany-based work often means the same thing in practice.
Meet FRATCH Heads of Development
Peter Jehle
Interim Teamlead
Last position:
Interim Teamlead at Somnomedics
- Interim Teamlead to setup a project with STM32 and NORA Bluetooth module.
- Customer is planning new hardware to replace existing hardware with Bluetooth communication instead cable connection.
- Project was already started but the requirements were not defined.
- System based on STM32 and Nora B106 CPU.
- Analyzing the existing available code base.
- Checking for possible solutions to get the project working.
- Defining the requirements.
- Applying some rules to improve the team communication.
- Working with the NRF tools to get the custom board based on NORA B106 (NRF5340) working.
- Implementation of a simple device communication by Bluetooth.
- Preparation of documentation.
- Leading communication meetings.
- Conducted discussions with customer.
- Tools used: JIRA, OneNote, Git, Confluence, Nordic NRF, Nora B106.
Stefan Baust
Senior Full Stack Developer / Co-Founder / CTO / Head of Development
Last position:
Senior Full Stack Developer / Co-Founder / CTO / Head of Development at Netprint Development & Solutions GmbH
Overall technical responsibility for innovative SAP Customer Checkout solutions at leading clients such as Aramark, Consortium Gastronomie, Feinkost Käfer, TSG Hoffenheim, and VfB Stuttgart. Full support from requirements analysis to implementation and support.
Successful conception and development of the NDS SmartPOS platform ("Läufer App"):
Designed the software architecture and implemented it according to Modern Android Development principles.
Led a small development team (1 Android expert, 1 working student) with a 50% in-house development share.
Integrated various payment SDKs (S-Payment S-POS, VR Payment, CCV), enabling clients to achieve significant cost savings by reusing existing contracts.
Successfully rolled out to multiple major clients, resulting in demonstrably increased efficiency of sales staff.
Independently developed and successfully implemented critical infrastructure components:
Reporting server (SQL, JasperReports): Measurable reduction in accounting effort by eliminating daily manual transfers into the ERP system.
ZVT plugin: Solely implemented the serial protocol with Java/Netty over TCP/IP, saving several thousand euros per location and successfully deployed in multiple Bundesliga stadiums.
Completely in-house development of specialized plugins and server applications for custom functionality extensions of SAP Customer Checkout:
Waiter Teams Plugin: Allows waiters to work and settle bills in teams.
SQL reporting: Realized from conception to full documentation independently.
RFID payment solution for employee cards: Responsible for the complete development cycle.
Integration with reservation services: Designed seamless connections to Luca and other services, implemented together with a team member.
Direct technical on-site support for clients, including rapid troubleshooting in real-time environments with high transaction volumes and close coordination with stakeholders to continuously improve the systems based on practical experience.
Alexander Willer
Freelance Head of Development / Strategy Consultant
Last position:
Freelance Head of Development / Strategy Consultant at LabMaker GmbH
- Consulting on a wide range of open science hardware projects in the fields of electronics, mechatronics, and optoelectronics
- Comprehensive system analysis and DFM optimization of a novel open hardware miniaturized two-photon microscope
- Exchange with scientists from renowned academic institutions to align the customer’s work in the best possible way
- Production coordination with local and international partners for PCB assembly, CNC machining, and optics
- Process analysis for product design, production planning/execution, product lifecycle, and product data management
- Coaching employees from all departments on the requirements that complex technical products place on business processes
- Development of a comprehensive PLM & PDM concept tailored to the needs of development and manufacturing
- Initiating intensive and direct cross-departmental exchange to identify improvement potential
- Planning shopfloor layout improvements with the production team and supporting the implementation process
- Quick onboarding of two new English-speaking colleagues in technical product management and development
- Ad-hoc and in-depth training of employees in the use of software tools such as KiCad or Autodesk Inventor
- Consulting on long-term development into a scalable, even stronger partner for the open science hardware community
Michael Schwörer
CEO and Project Manager
Last position:
CEO and Project Manager at Advanced Automation GmbH
- Turnkey implementation of automated machines and systems for automotive, electronics, medical, and food industries
- Managing partner and responsible for about 90% of implemented projects
- Order acquisition, project planning and management (deadlines, resources, milestones, controlling, stakeholder management)
- Documentation and responsibility for EU conformity (CE) according to the Machinery Directive
- Leading interdisciplinary project teams (design, electrical/PLC, assembly, freelancers)
- Selected projects:
- Assembly and production lines for printed circuit boards (fully automated), value per system up to €1.5M, 15-member team
- Welding and testing systems (PM-RSM), value per system approx. €450,000, 12-member team
- Rotary indexing machines for rotor assembly, value approx. €350,000, 10-member team
- Test machine with laser marking "Screwinspector" for Aesculap AG, value approx. €420,000, 5-member team
- Magnet assembly system POMUX for SICK-Stegmann GmbH, value approx. €350,000, 8-member team
- Assembly machine for spindle nuts for IMS Gear GmbH (USA, China), seven identical systems, value per system approx. €525,000, 8-member team
Stephan Menzel
Head of Development
Last position:
SAP
- Consulting and development for VR usage scenarios in industrial contexts
- Digital Twin, Unreal Engine VR deployments, Multi-user networking, Cloud infrastructure
- Technologies: AWS, Google Cloud, other Cloud Services; C++; Unreal Engine 5; Android, Meta Quest
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Heads of Development statistics
Typical experience
27 years
Average project duration
6.7 years
Certifications per freelancer
2
Top business areas
Product Development, Information Technology, Project Management
Top industries
Information Technology, Manufacturing, Automotive
Most common languages
German, English, French
Bachelor's degree or higher
75%
Master's degree or higher
50%
Daily Rate Distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this role are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Average rates for Heads of Development & Seniority distribution
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? See our quick guide to FRATCH
A Head of Development leads the development function, not just individual projects. They define priorities, guide delivery, support team leads, and help senior stakeholders make realistic decisions. In a freelance setup, they are often brought in to stabilise the function, improve execution, or cover a leadership gap.
Choose this role when the need is broader than one project or one team. A project manager focuses on plans and coordination, while a tech lead stays close to code and architecture. A Head of Development works across both, with responsibility for delivery, people, and technical direction.
The best Head of Development profiles combine leadership, delivery control, and enough technical depth to challenge estimates and architecture choices. They should understand agile working, release processes, dependencies, and how to keep teams productive without micromanaging. Clear stakeholder communication is just as important as technical judgment.
They should quickly assess the current setup, identify blockers, and clarify who owns what. Typical early work includes reviewing the roadmap, team structure, delivery health, and cross-team risks. A good start is visible fast because the role is meant to create focus and momentum.
The titles often overlap, and companies use them differently. An engineering manager may focus more on people and team performance, while a development director may carry a broader organisational mandate. A Head of Development usually sits in the middle: senior enough for strategy, close enough to delivery to make decisions that work in practice.
Freelance makes sense when you need senior leadership quickly, for a defined period, or to cover a transition. It is a good fit for restructuring, product turnaround, scaling teams, or replacing an absent leader. It also helps when you want outside perspective before making a long-term hire.
Yes, if the team and decision process support it. Many assignments work well with remote collaboration, especially when tools, priorities, and reporting lines are clear. For some companies in Germany, regular on-site time is still useful for workshops, leadership alignment, or working with local stakeholders.
Look for evidence of team leadership, delivery improvements, and clear decision-making in complex settings. A strong development manager or Head of Development can explain how they handle dependencies, poor delivery flow, and stakeholder conflict. The interview should show how they think, not just what titles they have held.
The average hourly rate for Heads of Development in Germany is 92 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 737 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers working as Heads of Development in Germany, 75% hold at least a Bachelor's degree and 50% hold at least a Master's degree.
On average, freelancers working as Heads of Development in Germany have 27 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 6.7 years.
The most common languages among freelancers working as Heads of Development in Germany are German (100%), English (83%), and French (17%).
The most common industries among freelancers working as Heads of Development in Germany are Information Technology (83%), Manufacturing (67%), and Automotive (50%).
The most common business areas among freelancers working as Heads of Development in Germany are Product Development (100%), Information Technology (83%), and Project Management (67%).
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
