Generative AI 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.

• 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.

Project: Digitalization of Warehouse Processes | Building a Data Analytics Platform.

• Built a web-based workforce allocation system that digitized daily shift planning by matching worker expertise to operational zones, replacing manual coordination with a structured workflow adopted across the site, saving supervisors time on daily planning.
• Developed a real-time operational visibility dashboard giving supervisors a live view of task throughput and outstanding workload across warehouse zones throughout the day, helping reduce overtime and idle labour costs.
• Developed a slotting optimization solution to improve warehouse picking efficiency and reduce picking time per order, working directly with operations teams from concept through production deployment.

Technologies used: Python, Django, PostgreSQL, Pandas, NumPy, HTML, Java, JavaScript, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, Power BI, GitHub Actions CI/CD, GitOps, Claude, OpenAI

Concept, design, and implementation of digital brand and communication solutions for companies, practices, freelancers, and agencies.

Concept and design of corporate websites, shops, landing pages, app and interface concepts, as well as complex design systems – from strategy, information architecture, mobile-first approaches, and UX/UI design to Figma prototyping, content structure, SEO-relevant content, and image concepts, all the way to implementation (in WordPress) and maintenance.

Independent project management including client consulting, quote and budget coordination, quality assurance, and collaboration with development.

Focus areas: UX/UI design, art direction, web design, e-commerce, corporate websites, complex design systems, Figma, WordPress, marketing

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

Concept development and redesign of a real estate sales platform, AI-driven ideation with Claude

Real Estate Conversion Optimization Claude

• Overall responsibility for platform transformation across ERP, CRM, PIM, and AI-driven process automation
• ERP transformation: Implementing and migrating to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
• CRM & growth stack: Implementing HubSpot as the central CRM and a platform for lead and marketing automation
• Product data & commerce enablement: Introducing an ePIM to scale category management and digital commerce processes
• AI-driven process automation: Designing and implementing agent-based AI workflows to automate processes in business services, accounting, tender management, and marketing
• Building a scalable platform organization including product development, DevOps, UX, cloud engineering, and corporate IT
• Implementing modern product and portfolio governance (e.g., OKRs, portfolio boards, value-based roadmaps) to manage technology-driven initiatives
• Harmonizing heterogeneous system landscapes and transforming them into a modular, scalable platform architecture (ERP, CRM, PIM, integrated customer journeys)
• Coaching and developing product owners, tech leads, delivery managers, and UX teams to build a scalable product organization

• Serve as AI lead for life-science solutions, integrating advanced AI models directly into company workflows and ensuring seamless deployment.
• Design and implement deep learning architectures (PyTorch, Keras) for complex biomedical challenges, including cell segmentation, multimodal omics analysis, and prediction of point clouds.
• Develop and deploy robust LLM-based systems, including RAG architectures and agentic workflows using LangGraph, to facilitate natural-language interaction with complex medical data.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives to apply foundation models and explainable AI (xAI) to clinical and evolutionary algorithms.

• In my key role in strategic requirements management for the UVO online service, I established a comprehensive process from concept to execution.
• The responsibility included effectively collecting and prioritizing user feedback and requirements from municipalities and state administrations for direct service improvements.
• Developed, implemented, and led strategic requirements management for the OZG 2.0 UVO online service
• Gathering, prioritizing, and handling functional requirements, issues, improvement suggestions, and requests from municipalities and state administrations
• Creating release documentation
• Communicating implemented requirements to municipalities and UV offices
• Aligning with service managers and stakeholders
• Coordinating XFamily changes and version updates
• Managing and maintaining the Jira backlog and Confluence pages
• Responsible for Jira sprints, sprint planning, and review
• Coordinating with business, Product Owner, and development team for requirement implementation
• Testing implemented requirements in the online service
• Project documentation

• Designed and led the development of an automated short-video generation system.
• Built a scalable AWS backend using Step Functions, Lambda, S3, ECS Fargate, and DynamoDB.
• Developed video rendering with OpenCV and FFMPEG; ensured maintainable Python code.
• Supervised and mentored a Python developer and trained the client in AI workflows.
• Decreased end-to-end production time from hours to minutes.
• Created a modular, extensible architecture designed to support future AI models.

• Designed brochures, presentations, infographics, and reports to communicate UNV initiatives (Full Funding Programme, Special Voluntary Fund) to global partners.
• Created data-driven reports using Power BI and Google Analytics, enhancing clarity and transparency for internal and external stakeholders.
• Produced stories of UN Volunteers in the field.

• Project management in agile environments for eGovernment and Smart City projects
• Building knowledge on generative AI (Gen AI) for various existing clients and business development of Gen AI use cases
• Managing director responsibilities

• Building a company-wide grassroots movement with over 500 employees around digital responsibility topics, tech ethics, and a human-centered focus
• Connecting top-down initiatives from innovation, corporate responsibility, and compliance with engaged employees
• Organizing flagship events like barcamps, dialogue formats, workshops, and discussion series
• Promoting ethical reflection, diversity, and societal perspectives in innovation and decision-making processes

• IT management consulting