About the Position

Team Lead Java Development (m/w/d)

Braunschweig, Germany

Full-time

Permanent

About the Role

Your mission is to lead our Java development team within the Software Engineering department, both technically and managerially, and to work together with the team to develop scalable, reliable, and maintainable software solutions as part of the end-to-end solutions of OKAPI:Orbits. You will support a team of currently five Java developers in designing, implementing, and sustainably operating modern services and event-driven systems.

In this role, you will combine genuine technical contributions with strong leadership of people. You will write and review code with your team, create clarity on priorities, actively invest in the development of your team members, and ensure that technical decisions align with company goals and customer needs. This directly contributes to enabling satellite operators and space agencies to efficiently plan, monitor, and control their missions in an increasingly dynamic orbital environment.

Studies show that women rarely apply for a job if they do not meet 100 percent of the requirements. We expressly encourage you to apply if you have leadership potential, enthusiasm for software development, and a genuine interest in space technology. OKAPI:Orbits already has a very diverse team and is actively working to expand this diversity, as diverse teams demonstrably achieve better results and foster innovation.

Responsibilities

Technical Contribution

Actively participate in the conception, implementation, and further development of Java-based services and event-driven systems as a hands-on member of the team
Responsibility for the technical quality of the team's results, especially in the areas of architecture, maintainability, testing, and operation
Making technical decisions, conducting code reviews, and continuously improving development processes and team workflows
Co-creating and evolving best practices around software engineering, deployment, monitoring, and operation

People Leadership and Team Development

Managerial leadership of a Java team with currently five developers, including regular one-on-one meetings, feedback, and personal development
Actively promoting the individual development of team members through coaching, mentoring, and creating space for self-responsibility and learning
Supporting the team in planning, prioritizing, and successfully delivering development tasks in a sustainable and structured manner
Contributing to the strategic development of the Software Engineering department together with other leaders and technical experts

Collaboration and Delivery

Close collaboration with other teams, product management, and other stakeholders to translate requirements into robust technical solutions
Ensuring a reliable and efficient development process through meaningful standards, clear responsibilities, and strong teamwork

Requirements

Must-Have

Several years of practical experience in software development with Java, with a clear focus on backend systems and event-driven architectures, for example, with message queues or asynchronous processing
Genuine interest in people leadership and team development
Solid understanding of modern software architecture, coupled with high standards for code quality, maintainability, and reliability
Proficient in software development practices such as code reviews, testing, and Git workflows
Ability to communicate technical topics clearly, both to developers and non-technical stakeholders
Good English and German language skills in speech and writing, at least at B2 level
Structured, independent, and solution-oriented way of working

Nice-to-Have

Experience in a technical or managerial leadership role, for example, as a Team Lead, Tech Lead, or in a comparable position with real personnel responsibility
Experience in building and evolving high-performing engineering teams
Practical experience with Python in a backend or data processing context
Knowledge of cloud technologies, containerization, or modern deployment processes, for example, with Docker or Kubernetes
Experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps-oriented working methods
Knowledge in observability topics such as logging, metrics, or tracing
Experience in a regulated, security-critical, or otherwise technically challenging environment
Interest in or experience with the space or aerospace sector

We Offer

Flat hierarchies, small teams, flexible working hours
Onboarding in Braunschweig, then on-site in Braunschweig
Early responsibility and direct influence on the technical and organizational development
Training budget for your personal and professional development
Corporate benefits such as BahnCard 25/50, bike leasing, and German courses
Participation in space events and conferences to promote sustainable space
Free drinks in the office, monthly company lunch, and regular after-work events

About the Company

OKAPI:Orbits is an innovative German SaaS startup that aims to make space more sustainable through collision avoidance software for satellites. The team at OKAPI:Orbits has the vision of a safe and sustainable space environment that is truly accessible to everyone. We focus on developing innovative and efficient products that enable safe satellite operations and seamless ground segment integration. As experts in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST), we offer platform services based on standardized interfaces with a wide range of flexible modules to meet the specific needs of our customers.

Team Lead Java Development (m/w/d)

Job description