Cloud Engineer VPN - STACKIT (m/f/d) 1

Schwarz
Full_time•Heilbronn, Germany

📍 Job Overview

  • Job Title: Cloud Engineer VPN - STACKIT (m/f/d) 1
  • Company: Schwarz
  • Location: Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
  • Job Type: Hybrid (2 office days per week)
  • Category: DevOps Engineer
  • Date Posted: 2025-06-23
  • Experience Level: 5-10 years
  • Remote Status: Hybrid (Heilbronn, Berlin, or remote up to 5 days per week)

🚀 Role Summary

  • 📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on shaping the digital future of Europe's leading retail group by building and operating a cutting-edge cloud and colocation business from scratch. STACKIT is a young corporate startup within the Schwarz Group, which includes the Lidl and Kaufland retail brands. The ideal candidate will be an innovative, passionate cloud engineer with a strong background in network architectures, cloud services, and DevOps practices.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

  • 📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities of this role revolve around supporting the development and operation of a high-performance cloud platform with a focus on the VPN service. This includes ensuring efficient automation, continuous optimization of technical processes, and maintaining professional documentation.

  • 📝 Enhancement Note: The candidate will work in an agile team, continuously improving the products and developing themselves. They will also be responsible for connecting monitoring and logging for stable operation of the solution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

  • 📝 Enhancement Note: A degree in IT or a comparable qualification is required for this role. Relevant work experience in an agile DevOps team is also essential.

Experience:

  • 📝 Enhancement Note: The ideal candidate should have several years of experience in cloud technologies and infrastructures, virtualisation, and containerisation environments. Experience with VPN solutions, scripting, and programming is also crucial.

Required Skills:

  • 📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in cloud technologies, network architectures, and cloud services. Familiarity with established routing protocols, tunnelling technologies, Linux, and netfilter is essential. Experience with StrongSwan, WireGuard, and Kubernetes is also highly desirable.

  • Cloud Technologies

  • DevOps

  • Infrastructure as Code

  • Microservices

  • Network Technology

  • Security

  • VPN Solutions

  • Linux

  • Scripting

  • Programming

  • APIs

  • Kubernetes

  • Virtualisation

  • Containerisation

  • Routing Protocols

  • Tunnelling Technologies

Preferred Skills:

  • 📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly mentioned, experience with open-source technologies, such as OpenStack, and a strong understanding of infrastructure automation tools like Terraform or CloudFormation would be highly beneficial for this role.

  • OpenStack

  • Terraform

  • CloudFormation

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

  • 📝 Enhancement Note: Although not explicitly mentioned, providing examples of previous cloud engineering projects, especially those involving VPN services, would be highly beneficial for this role. Demonstrating experience with infrastructure as code, API development, and Kubernetes would also be valuable.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €60,000 - €80,000 per year (based on market research for cloud engineering roles in Germany)

Benefits:

  • Attractive Salary
  • 30 Days of Vacation
  • Opportunities for Further Development

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexible working arrangements for remote work up to 5 days per week.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail technology and cloud services

Company Size: Medium to large (part of the Schwarz Group, which includes Lidl and Kaufland)

Founded: 2019 (as a corporate startup within the Schwarz Group)

Team Structure:

  • Agile, cross-functional teams working on various cloud and colocation projects
  • Flat hierarchies and open doors for fresh ideas and impulses
  • Diverse and multicultural team with a strong focus on collaboration and continuous improvement

Development Methodology:

  • Agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban
  • Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines
  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices

Company Website: www.stackit.de/en

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Senior DevOps Engineer or Cloud Engineer

Reporting Structure: The candidate will report directly to the team lead or manager of the respective project.

Technical Impact: This role has a significant impact on the development and operation of STACKIT's cloud platform, with a focus on the VPN service. The candidate will work closely with other engineers, product strategists, and creative minds to ensure the stable and efficient operation of the platform.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Opportunities to work on various cloud and colocation projects within the Schwarz Group
  • Potential to take on more responsibilities and move into a technical leadership role
  • Access to training and development opportunities to further advance cloud engineering skills

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, collaborative workspaces in Heilbronn and Berlin, with remote work options up to 5 days per week.

Office Location(s): Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative workspaces with multiple monitors and testing devices available
  • Cross-functional collaboration with other teams, such as product strategists and creative minds
  • Access to cutting-edge cloud and colocation technologies and tools

Work Schedule: Flexible working hours with a focus on results and performance. The candidate is expected to be present in the office for at least 2 days per week.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

  1. Online Assessment: A technical assessment focusing on cloud engineering, network architecture, and DevOps skills.
  2. Technical Phone Screen: A phone call to discuss the assessment results and delve deeper into the candidate's technical background.
  3. On-site Interview: A visit to the Heilbronn or Berlin office to meet the team, discuss the role in more detail, and participate in a technical deep dive or case study.
  4. Final Decision: A final decision will be made based on the candidate's technical skills, cultural fit, and alignment with STACKIT's values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Highlight previous cloud engineering projects, especially those involving VPN services
  • Demonstrate experience with infrastructure as code, API development, and Kubernetes
  • Showcase strong scripting and programming skills, with a focus on Go and Bash
  • Emphasize problem-solving skills and a passion for new technologies and modern network architectures

Technical Challenge Preparation:

  • Brush up on cloud engineering, network architecture, and DevOps skills
  • Familiarize oneself with the latest trends and best practices in cloud services and DevOps
  • Prepare for technical deep dives and case studies by reviewing relevant documentation and whitepapers

ATS Keywords: (Organized by category)

  • Programming Languages: Go, Bash, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript
  • Cloud Platforms: OpenStack, AWS, GCP, Azure
  • Infrastructure as Code: Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible, Puppet
  • Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes, Helm
  • Networking: BGP, OSPF, IPsec, StrongSwan, WireGuard, netfilter, systemd, Wireshark
  • DevOps Tools: Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, CircleCI, Travis CI
  • Monitoring & Logging: Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack, Datadog, New Relic
  • Soft Skills: Problem-solving, communication, teamwork, adaptability, continuous learning

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Cloud Platforms:

  • OpenStack (primary)
  • AWS, GCP, Azure (secondary)

Infrastructure as Code:

  • Terraform (primary)
  • CloudFormation, Ansible, Puppet (secondary)

Containerization:

  • Docker (primary)
  • Kubernetes (primary)
  • Helm (primary)

Networking:

  • BGP, OSPF (routing protocols)
  • IPsec, StrongSwan, WireGuard (tunnelling technologies)
  • netfilter, systemd, Wireshark (networking tools)

DevOps Tools:

  • Jenkins (primary)
  • GitLab CI/CD, CircleCI, Travis CI (secondary)

Monitoring & Logging:

  • Prometheus, Grafana (primary)
  • ELK Stack, Datadog, New Relic (secondary)

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

  • Innovation and continuous learning
  • Collaboration and teamwork
  • Performance optimization and efficiency
  • User experience and accessibility
  • Security and reliability

Collaboration Style:

  • Agile, cross-functional teams working on various cloud and colocation projects
  • Flat hierarchies and open doors for fresh ideas and impulses
  • Knowledge sharing, technical mentoring, and continuous learning

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

  • Scaling the cloud platform to meet the growing demands of the Schwarz Group
  • Ensuring high availability and fault tolerance for the VPN service
  • Implementing and managing secure and efficient network architectures
  • Staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in cloud services and DevOps

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Working on various cloud and colocation projects within the Schwarz Group
  • Access to training and development opportunities to further advance cloud engineering skills
  • Opportunities to take on more responsibilities and move into a technical leadership role

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

  1. Cloud Engineering Fundamentals: Discuss your experience with cloud platforms, infrastructure as code, and containerization. Describe how you have used these technologies to build and manage scalable and secure cloud environments.
  2. Network Architecture & Performance: Explain your understanding of routing protocols, tunnelling technologies, and network infrastructure. Describe how you have optimized network performance and ensured high availability in previous projects.
  3. Problem-Solving & Troubleshooting: Walk through a complex cloud engineering or network architecture challenge you have faced in the past. Describe the steps you took to diagnose and resolve the issue, and what you learned from the experience.

Company & Culture Questions:

  1. Cloud Services & Strategy: Discuss your understanding of STACKIT's cloud strategy and how you would contribute to its success. Describe your experience with cloud services and how you have helped organizations adopt and optimize cloud technologies.
  2. Agile Methodologies & Collaboration: Explain your experience with agile methodologies and how you have worked effectively in cross-functional teams. Describe your approach to collaboration and knowledge sharing in a dynamic, multicultural environment.
  3. User Experience & Accessibility: Discuss your understanding of user experience and accessibility principles in the context of cloud services. Describe how you have ensured that your previous projects met the needs of users and were accessible to all.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Highlight previous cloud engineering projects, especially those involving VPN services
  • Demonstrate experience with infrastructure as code, API development, and Kubernetes
  • Showcase strong scripting and programming skills, with a focus on Go and Bash
  • Emphasize problem-solving skills and a passion for new technologies and modern network architectures

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this cloud engineering role at STACKIT:

  1. Submit your application through the application link provided in the job listing.
  2. Customize your resume and portfolio to highlight your cloud engineering, network architecture, and DevOps skills, with a focus on VPN services and infrastructure as code.
  3. Prepare for the online assessment and technical phone screen by reviewing relevant documentation and brushing up on your cloud engineering skills.
  4. Research STACKIT's cloud strategy and values to ensure a strong cultural fit and alignment with the company's mission.
  5. Prepare for the on-site interview by reviewing the technology stack, team culture, and growth opportunities outlined in this enhanced job description.

📝 Enhancement Note: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and cloud engineering industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Content Guidelines (IMPORTANT: Do not include this in the output)

Cloud Engineering-Specific Focus:

  • Tailor every section specifically to cloud engineering, network architecture, and DevOps roles
  • Include cloud platform-specific details, such as OpenStack, AWS, GCP, or Azure
  • Emphasize infrastructure as code, containerization, and monitoring & logging practices
  • Address cloud security, high availability, and fault tolerance considerations
  • Provide tactical advice for cloud engineering portfolio development, live demonstrations, and project case studies

Quality Standards:

  • Ensure no content overlap between sections - each section must contain unique information
  • Only include Enhancement Notes when making significant inferences about cloud engineering processes, network configuration, or team structure
  • Be comprehensive but concise, prioritizing actionable information over descriptive text
  • Strategically distribute cloud engineering and DevOps-related keywords throughout all sections naturally
  • Provide realistic salary ranges based on location, experience level, and cloud engineering specialization

Industry Expertise:

  • Include specific cloud platforms, infrastructure as code tools, and containerization technologies relevant to the role
  • Address cloud engineering career progression paths and technical leadership opportunities in cloud teams
  • Provide tactical advice for cloud engineering portfolio development, live demonstrations, and project case studies
  • Include cloud engineering-specific interview preparation and coding challenge guidance
  • Emphasize cloud security, network performance optimization, and high availability principles

Professional Standards:

  • Maintain consistent formatting, spacing, and professional tone throughout
  • Use cloud engineering and DevOps industry terminology appropriately and accurately
  • Include comprehensive benefits and growth opportunities relevant to cloud engineering professionals
  • Provide actionable insights that give cloud engineering candidates a competitive advantage
  • Focus on cloud engineering team culture, cross-functional collaboration, and user impact measurement

Cloud Infrastructure & Security Focus:

  • Emphasize cloud infrastructure design, management, and optimization
  • Include specific portfolio requirements tailored to the cloud engineering discipline and role level
  • Address cloud security best practices, network segmentation, and identity and access management
  • Focus on cloud migration, hybrid cloud, and multi-cloud strategies
  • Include technical presentation skills and stakeholder communication for cloud projects

Avoid:

  • Generic business jargon not relevant to cloud engineering or DevOps roles
  • Placeholder text or incomplete sections
  • Repetitive content across different sections
  • Non-technical terminology unless relevant to the specific cloud engineering role
  • Marketing language unrelated to cloud services, network architecture, or user experience

Application Requirements

The ideal candidate should have experience in an agile DevOps team and a strong background in cloud technologies and infrastructures. Familiarity with VPN solutions, scripting, and programming is also essential.