Head of Engineering – AI-native Platform (f/m/d)

About the Position

Head of Engineering – AI-native Platform (f/m/d)

COMPARUS GmbH is seeking a Head of Engineering for their AI-native platform to lead a distributed engineering team of over 100 engineers.

Responsibilities

As Head of Engineering, you will be responsible for building and further developing an AI-native software engineering organization. Your role will focus on shaping the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) into a consistently AI-native, scalable, and effective development model for day-to-day operations.

Systemic Responsibility

• Building an AI-native SDLC architecture across the entire lifecycle (Discovery & Design → Code & Review → Test & QA → Release & Change → Operations)
• Defining clear decision-making logic between humans and the system
• Establishing measurable quality, stability, and efficiency indicators

Organisation & Culture

• Developing an engineering organization that:
  • Uses AI productively
  • Critically evaluates AI
  • Takes responsibility for AI (governance, security, compliance)
• Embedding outcome-orientation (OKR) rather than output optimization
• Leading and developing a distributed engineering organization (≈100 engineers, including near-shore/offshore)

Platform & Product

• Shared technical responsibility in day-to-day engineering across architecture, SDLC, and quality standards
• Close integration of Product, Engineering, and Professional Services
• Ensuring an architecture that enables scaling without increasing complexity
• Integration of activities within the scope of Platform Engineering

Requirements

• Proven experience in building systems, not just in leading organizations
• A strong mental model for:
  • Automation
  • Autonomy
  • Scaling without linear growth
• A passion for fundamentally rethinking things, not just optimizing them
• Several years’ leadership experience as CTO / Head of Engineering in SaaS or product environments (scaling >100 engineers, near-/offshore experience)
• In-depth technical expertise in, amongst others:
  • Java / Spring, Microservices
  • Docker, Kubernetes / OpenShift
  • CI/CD (e.g. GitLab, GitOps)
  • Cloud (AWS/EKS, GCP/GKE or similar)
  • REST / OpenAPI
• Proven track record in establishing and managing SDLC and DevSecOps structures (DORA, SLI/SLO, incident and release processes)
• AI-first engineering mindset with practical experience or robust blueprints
• Languages: German C1, English at least B2

We Offer

• A strategically central role with considerable scope for shaping the future
• Responsibility for engineering as a system and a lever, not merely an administrative function
• Work on a scaling AI and SaaS platform with real product impact
• Direct influence on architecture, SDLC design, organizational logic, and priorities
• Short decision-making paths, no title or power politics, high level of personal responsibility
• International environment, remote in Germany or hybrid (Hamburg), travel <10%
• Attractive remuneration commensurate with responsibility
• Development based on your impact – not on a career path

About the Company

COMPARUS develops solutions for agile IT transformation and operates its own scalable SaaS platform, TiONA. We deliberately combine consulting and product work:

Services fund innovation; products scale impact.

Our aim is clear:

To deliver software faster, more securely, and with measurably greater impact – not through more people, but through better systems.

Our goal is to operate software development as a scalable, reliable system – in the spirit of a modern ‘software factory’ that combines quality, speed, and accountability.

Cultural Fit

Our focus isn’t always constant – but our sense of responsibility is.

If you can handle uncertainty, experimentation, and changing conditions while still consistently delivering results, you’ll find plenty of creative freedom here.

If, on the other hand, you require stable setups and unchanging conditions in the long term, this role is probably not the right one for you.

Benefits & Essentials

Strong benefits, real appreciation.

Because your commitment counts!

• Lunch: Enjoy high-quality meals at discounted prices.
• Childcare: We subsidize the care of pre-school children.
• Commuting: We subsidize your travel by public transport.
• Retirement Plan: Benefit from additional provisions for your future.
• Flexible working hours
• Work from home option
• State-of-the-art hardware
• Drinks and fresh fruit

Application

We would like to get to know you. Upload your resume, cover letter, and any other relevant documents.

Ich habe die Datenschutzerklärung der COMPARUS GmbH gelesen und stimme der Verwendung meiner Daten für den Bewerbungsprozess und zur Kontaktaufnahme - sowie der Löschung nach spätestens 26 Wochen - zu.