Group Engineering & Architecture Lead

About

Here I shape and steer the group-wide IT architecture and engineering strategy to ensure a modern, scalable, and efficient technology landscape.

Why this job is interesting to me:

50Hertz has long been committed to the energy transition. In the Group Engineering & Architecture team, I actively shape the current and future IT landscape of the Elia Group, promote modern engineering practices, and define company-wide standards for efficient, secure, and innovative digital products.

My Responsibilities:

• I lead an architect and engineering team as well as managers disciplinarily and technically.
• I define, am responsible for, and drive the architecture vision, standards, and principles for the entire group, ensuring they are applied uniformly across all entities.
• I am the authoritative instance for architectural decisions at the group level.
• I establish and maintain governance mechanisms to ensure global coherence while promoting local flexibility.
• I lead the bodies for steering the federated architecture in close collaboration with local architecture representatives.
• I translate architectural standards into robust technical frameworks, guidelines, and reusable assets.
• I define and promote best practices in software engineering, cloud adoption, DevOps, automation, and security by design.
• I foster synergies between Central IT and Local IT by driving reuse, common platforms, and shared architectural models.
• I reduce complexity and duplicate structures by supporting consolidation and simplification initiatives.
• I contribute to group portfolio management and key investment decisions in the areas of architecture and engineering.
• I monitor the technical coherence and functionality of the IT portfolio and propose corrective actions if necessary.
• I take on architectural leadership for large programs and transformation initiatives.
• I promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and alignment within the engineering and architecture community.
• I anticipate technology trends and contribute to the continuous improvement and future-proofing of the IT landscape.

My Competencies:

• University degree in computer science, engineering, or equivalent.
• Extensive experience (min. 10 years) in leadership positions in architecture, engineering, or technology.
• Proven experience in leading architecture and engineering activities in complex, cross-border, or federated environments.
• Comprehensive expertise in enterprise architecture, with TOGAF or comparable frameworks.
• Solid knowledge of modern development methods, including microservices, APIs, cloud-native development, DevOps, automation, and security by design.
• Experience in developing, managing, and evolving complex, distributed IT systems.
• Comprehensive knowledge of cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, or GCP.
• Expertise in integration architectures, data platforms, and secure system design.
• The ability to translate architectural standards into practical technical frameworks, guidelines, and reusable assets.
• Strong leadership and persuasion skills, even in environments without direct hierarchical authority.
• Excellent stakeholder management and executive-level communication skills.
• Strategic thinking, ability to align long-term visions with operational and practical realities.
• Confident handling of complexity, ambiguity, and large-scale changes in an international context.
• A cooperative and inclusive leadership style that aligns with Elias's values – responsibility, collaboration, and long-term impact.
• Fluent English skills; German language skills (B2) desirable.
• Willingness to travel.

Not a must, but advantageous:

• Experience in international leadership and organizations.
• Certifications such as TOGAF, Cloud, or DevOps.

Flexikompass - how flexible this position is:

• Flexible working hours with long-term account to support your work-life balance.
• The number of flex days is not limited.
• No core working hours.
• Mobile working (also from home) possible.