Azure DevOps Experts in Cologne

• Regulated environment within a German banking group (approx. 8,500 employees, hybrid cloud strategy).

• Responsible for operating, provisioning, and continuously securing business-critical platforms – including a GenAI chat application, a big data/AI platform, and data science workspaces based on Azure Virtual Desktops and VMs. Ownership of Azure DevOps projects for ShaiHulud and React2Shell, as well as BSI alerts – Security Operations improvements across the SDLC.

• Deployment responsibility for the GenAI chat application, big data/AI platform (BDAI), and data science workspaces (AVD/VM-based) in the respective landing zones.

• Deployment & release management: end-to-end responsibility for deploying portal and service applications across multiple Azure landing zones, including technical approvals, compliance with development team deployment guidelines, and ensuring ITIL-based change and release processes via ServiceNow.

• Azure landing zones & network architecture: design, provisioning, and operation of Azure landing zones for 3-tier web applications with enhanced network segmentation, VNet peering, hub-and-spoke architectures, private endpoints, and firewall integration across separate subscriptions and tenants.

• Azure DevOps governance & operations: ownership of the Azure DevOps organization, including projects, repositories, and CI/CD pipelines; implementation of governance requirements such as branch policies, approval gates, permission models, and audit-ready operating structures.

• Infrastructure as Code (Terraform): design, implementation, and operation of a modular Terraform architecture for standardized cloud infrastructure deployment, including state management, provider versioning, reusability, and policy-as-code approaches.

• CI/CD pipeline engineering: design, operation, and optimization of complex YAML-based CI/CD pipelines with multi-stage deployments, template standardization, self-hosted agents, integrated secret management, and automated quality and security checks.

• Git migration & platform consolidation: planning and execution of repository and pipeline migration from Azure DevOps to GitLab CI/CD, including automated scripts, full Git history transfer, pipeline porting, and platform consolidation.

• Container & platform operations (AKS): operation and security assessment of containerized workloads on Azure Kubernetes Service, centralization of on-premises container registries for ACR.

• OpenShift (OCP) security reviews: security assessment of code baselines, build pipelines, and deployment processes for on-premises OpenShift clusters with critical applications, and derivation of specific hardening recommendations.

• Shift-left security & DevSecOps transformation: introduction of a company-wide shift-left approach for early security integration in development and deployment processes, enabling developers to perform self-led security checks and sustainably reduce vulnerabilities before production (IDE integrations, pre-commit hooks, local scanners).

• Software supply chain security: analysis and mitigation of supply chain risks in NPM- and Yarn-based applications through dependency audits, CI/CD pipeline hardening, token rotation, and restriction of risky build and lifecycle mechanisms.

• Frontend & framework security (React / Next.js): security assessment and coordination of critical vulnerability remediation across platform applications and web frameworks, including coordination and complementary technical mitigations with all teams following BSI alerts.

• Software composition analysis (SCA): introduction and operation of automated vulnerability scans for container images, pipelines/artifacts, and third-party dependencies, including SBOM exports within CI/CD pipelines.

• SAST/DAST integration: design and piloting of static and dynamic application security tests in close collaboration with security architecture and development teams, for continuous improvement of code and runtime security, and establishing operational acceptance tests.

• Artifact & registry consolidation: analysis and consolidation of all package and container repositories for service applications and AKS workloads, aiming for a centralized, secured registry strategy with centralized vulnerability scanning and governance.

• Dependency-Track & SBOM strategy: advising the compliance board on introducing a central SBOM and vulnerability management platform to increase enterprise-wide dependency transparency and accelerate CVE response capability.

• CI/CD pipeline hardening: security analysis and cleanup of the existing pipeline landscape by removing unused pipelines, improving secrets hygiene, implementing least-privilege principles, and isolating build agent environments.

• Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) optimization: analysis and tuning of existing Azure WAF rules (OWASP Top 10 Core Rule Set, DSR/SDC, custom rules) to defend against known vulnerabilities and exploit patterns, including reducing false positives and improving threat detection.

• Documentation & stakeholder communication: creating and maintaining technical documentation, runbooks, and architecture overviews in Jira and Confluence, as well as active knowledge transfer between operations, development, security, and compliance stakeholders.

Architected and maintained data products for renewable energy operations, covering wind turbine, grid-meter, and weather data. Built scalable ETL/ELT pipelines in Azure Databricks using Delta Lake (bronze/silver/gold layers) and processed data in various formats, including structured and semi-structured data. Contributed to a data quality framework supporting table and column documentation, outlier detection, and completeness metrics across all datasets within a data product. In addition, implemented a DORA KPI Databricks dashboard used across all data products. Optimized CI/CD processes in Azure DevOps to streamline deployment across development, test, and production environments.

Technology stack: Azure Databricks, PySpark, SQL, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, Azure Data Lake, APIs, Dremio, Azure DevOps, YAML, Git, Databricks Workflows, Application Insights, Terraform, OpenAI API, Codex, LLM-assisted workflows

• Responsible for the architecture and development of an AI-native SaaS platform for industrial product portfolio management.
• Designed the modern data platform architecture on Azure for scalable analytics and enterprise data integration.
• Built enterprise data ingestion and transformation pipelines across complex industrial system landscapes.
• Developed graph-based representations of product structures and dependencies for analytical reasoning.
• Designed and implemented an agentic AI framework for AI-supported decision workflows.
• Built scalable analytical microservices and integrated reporting through modern BI technologies.
• Coordinated backend, AI, and frontend development across the MYNR platform stack.

• Brought together AI initiatives through central coordination and integration of artificial intelligence projects to increase efficiency and business value.
• Identified and prioritized AI use cases through business process analysis and translated them into structured product backlogs and roadmaps.
• Led change management activities, including the rollout of new digital tools, communication strategies, and training concepts to support cultural change.
• Managed requirements and processes through end-to-end requirements analysis, process modeling, and organizational optimization.
• Scaled agile practices (Scrum, Kanban, OKRs) and promoted cross-functional collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Supported company-wide digital transformation by leading technical change initiatives and strengthening collaboration models.

• Delivered ML pipelines for OCR, semantic search, and computer vision
• Integrated Azure AI Agents and GPT workflows for automation and QA
• Deployed cloud-based FastAPI services with scalable architecture
• Created integration docs and advised on LLM production readiness

• Structured analysis and evaluation of business processes

• Gathering, documenting, and prioritizing requirements

• Creating business-friendly and technically executable process models

• Use of Camunda tools

• Deriving requirements and interfaces from BPMN diagrams

• Coordination with stakeholders and business units

• Translating business requirements into technical solution designs

• Implementing efficient and tailored applications

• Systematic collection, analysis, and documentation of requirements

• Prioritizing and validating requirements in close collaboration with stakeholders

• Alignment between business and development to ensure shared objectives

• Creating use cases, user stories, and acceptance criteria

• Continuous requirements and change management throughout the project lifecycle

• Define project goals and create project plans

• Delegate tasks and monitor project progress

• Monitor budgets and inform stakeholders

• Mendix: Architecture, development, and maintenance of custom applications (Microflows, Domain Model, Security, XPath)

• Modeling Mendix workflows for process optimization

• Develop scalable apps with Mendix including REST/SOAP integration with SAP, SQL, Azure & SharePoint

• UI design for Mendix using Atlas UI, Fluent UI, HTML, CSS, JavaScript

• Develop web & mobile apps with Mendix using agile methods (Scrum, Kanban)

• Implement business logic with Mendix Microflows and Nanoflows

• Performance optimization and architecture improvements for Mendix applications

• Conduct Mendix training

• Create technical documentation and best practices for Mendix

• Coaching and mentoring for low-code development with Mendix

AI Strategy & Enablement for SMEs Management consulting – SMEs (e.g. marketing boutique, IT & office services)

Concept and delivery of structured AI introduction and strategy workshops for small and medium-sized businesses. Result: Practical AI status assessment, prioritized use case list, and management decision template as the basis for the next steps in the company’s AI development.

Activities

• Needs analysis and individual preparation of the consulting formats
• Facilitation of a structured AI status assessment including vision, mission, and target picture
• Identification and prioritization of relevant AI use cases and action fields
• Creation of management decision templates and roadmaps
• Raising awareness for opportunities, risks, and success factors of AI introduction
• Support for first customers with AI-supported automation scenarios
• Supporting people and teams through the change process of AI introduction (CM)

Methods / Tools / Technologies

Methods:

• AI status assessment & use case analysis
• Workshop moderation / facilitation
• Requirement Management
• Change Management (PROSCI)

Tools:

• Generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude)
• Automation/AI coding tools (e.g. n8n, Claude Code, Visual Studio, Antigravity)

Technologies:

• Prompt engineering
• AI workflow automation

• Implementation of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with Terraform to ensure a scalable, repeatable, and secure Azure infrastructure
• Implementation and optimization of CI/CD pipelines with Azure DevOps
• Management of container and server environments and AKS

• Taking over the troubled project from the internal project management and successful turnaround of project phase 1 (cutover of approx. 1000 servers (VMs)/standard desktops, specialized desktops)
• Responsible project management for the successful phase 1 transition (planning in the shortest possible time followed by implementation (very successful with low ticket volume))
• Stakeholder management – taking over direct (daily before cutover) communication with the client from the Chief Operation Manager in the format of regular meetings in taskforce mode. Rapid rebuilding of the previously lost trust base and restoration of the client relationship for optimal satisfaction
• Taskforce mode to eliminate all existing issues/showstoppers before cutover
• Scope clarification, setup, and scheduling of phase 2 activities (e.g. silo/admin servers)
• Kick-off of phase 2 / handing the project back to the success line for the internal project management/line to handle the remaining defined topics
• Establishing, preparing, and conducting steering committees with V-1 management to align the guardrails
• Moderation of various regular meetings and operational workshops
• Participation in the lessons learned with the client to address dissatisfaction related to the internal project management (before my start! They are extremely satisfied with my work)
• Tools: Atlassian Suite (Confluence/JIRA), MIRO, Sharepoint; MS Office (PowerPoint, Excel, MS Project)

• Improvement of the Information Security Management System (ISMS) based on ISO 27001, NIS2, DORA, B3S, TISAX and BSI IT Baseline Protection
• Conducting comprehensive gap analyses to identify gaps and derive action plans according to the above standards and regulations; management and KPIs
• Data Loss Prevention strategy and implementation using MS Purview
• Vulnerability and patch management, security monitoring
• Risk analysis and threat modeling using the STRIDE methodology
• Development of vendor risk assessments, implementation of risk classifications, conducting supplier assessments and implementing technical monitoring solutions (e.g. Security ScoreCard)
• Securing cloud environments (AWS and Azure); expertise in CSPM/CNAPP (Wiz), cloud migration, secure CI/CD pipelines, container security and best practices in AWS, Azure and Office 365
• Application security: penetration testing, DevSecOps, OWASP, pre-commit hooks, key and secret management, IDE plugins, static source code analysis, dependency checks, container scanning, vulnerability management, CIS benchmarks and compliance
• Security assessment and hardening according to CIS benchmarks and cloud conformity in AWS, Office 365 and Azure

• Network elements, network, operational and operator-related systems
• Supporting around 20 different products (managed agile)
• Requirements analysis and management (functional and non-functional)
• Test concept and planning (scope, test phases, effort, schedule, resources, organization, etc.)
• Aligning approach with clients and service providers
• Managing and assisting in creation of test cases for system, integration and end-to-end tests
• Guiding and supporting test execution
• Defect management and planning bug fixes with external providers
• Preparing and facilitating workshops
• Regular reporting and creating automated test reports
• Further development of agile testing methodology and configuration of supporting tools
• Conceptual support in developing a quality seal for rating product and service quality of internal and external providers
• Requirements engineering based on ISO/IEC 25010, Scrum, SaFE
• BMC Remedy, Atlassian Confluence, Atlassian Jira (including plugins Xray, Structure), Microsoft Office (incl. Visio), Obsidian, doxis document management system, Gitlab, Obsidian

• In-depth forensics of old and new data sources
• Enhancing existing reports and creating new data analyses
• Data preparation from source systems and semantic models
• Azure DevOps integration
• Tools/Skills: MS-PowerBI, DAX, MS-Office 365, PowerQuery, M, PowerAutomate, Redmine, SharePoint, SQL (T-SQL, Oracle), MS Fabric

• Java 11/21

• Springboot

• Swagger/OpenApi

• Azure Pipelines

• Trivy Integration

• Apache Sling

• OSGI

• Java Content Repository (JCR)

• Apache Jackrabbit Oak

• Adobe HTL

• GraphQL

• Maven

• GitLab

• IntelliJ

• Azure Cloud

• Azure DevOps

• Terraform

• AEM specialist in the Scrum team

• Development and deployment of microservices via Open API interfaces

• Operation of microservices in the Azure Cloud

• Implementation of AEM modules and integration with microservices

• Member of the knowledge transfer team and a backend coordination team

• Implementation of custom reporting solutions for financial KPIs aligned with specific business requirements

• Development of a machine learning application that achieved a 250% performance improvement

• Data Architect "Production-Oriented Quality Assurance" (03/2024–09/2024):

• Design and implementation of an analytics platform to detect quality deviations in manufacturing

• Build of a scalable data lakehouse architecture on Databricks in combination with SAP ERP data via SAP Datasphere

• Close collaboration with the SAP team to harmonize bill of materials and order data

• Visualization of KPIs to support shopfloor management

• Lead Data Engineer "Sales Performance Monitoring" (08/2023–12/2023):

• Design and implementation of a Databricks-based platform for analyzing sales figures and promotion effects

• Integration of SAP SD data via SAP BW/4HANA

• Use of Azure DevOps to orchestrate ETL jobs and deploy workflows

• Technical Project Lead "Cloud Migration & Data Strategy" (02/2023–05/2023):

• Migration of a heterogeneous data warehouse stack to a modern cloud architecture on Azure with Databricks as the central processing platform

• Development of a governance-compliant data architecture to integrate SAP financial data and non-SAP sources

Technologies: Databricks, Delta Lake, Python, SAP Datasphere, Azure DevOps, PowerBI, SQL