Tech Lead

Tech Lead Company Orcrist builds the Orcrist Intelligence Platform (OIP), a Kubernetes-based data intelligence system delivered as SaaS or self-hosted/on-prem (including air-gapped deployments). We fuse streaming, batch, and ML workloads with a modern web application to support defense, law-enforcement, and enterprise missions. Role Lead Innovation’s technical execution of time-boxed discovery and prototyping cycles. You’ll stay hands-on (~50%+), build thin vertical slices end-to-end, and ensure prototypes are adoption-ready—aligned with OIP’s Core primitives (IAM, audit, multitenancy) and Platform/Foundation standards. What you'll do Own architecture and technical direction for Innovation prototypes: interfaces, tradeoffs, and decision records (RFCs/ADRs). Build thin vertical slices across UI, APIs, and pipelines—shipping demo-ready reference implementations with feature flags. Validate feasibility under real deployment constraints (cloud, on-prem, air-gapped) and partner early with Core/Foundation/Platform. Produce excellent handoff packages: technical designs, schemas, runbooks, and an integration backlog teams can execute. Mentor engineers through design/code reviews and set quality guardrails (testing, observability, “prototype but operable” standards). About you 7+ years engineering experience; 2+ years leading architecture and delivery outcomes. Expert TypeScript/Node.js with strong full-stack fluency (React/Next.js + backend services). Strong distributed-systems fundamentals (Kafka/event-driven design) and practical Kubernetes experience. Operational mindset: logs/metrics/traces, rollout gates, and SLO-oriented thinking (OpenTelemetry/Prometheus). Strong technical writing and cross-team collaboration; comfortable in ambiguous, time-boxed environments. Eligible to work in Germany; EU/NATO citizenship preferred for export-controlled projects. Nice‑to‑haves Python proficiency and experience integrating ML enrichment services into product flows. Search/graph experience (OpenSearch, graph systems) and data-heavy UI performance instincts. German language (B1+) and/or experience in regulated domains (defense, law enforcement, govtech). What We Offer Modern stack: TypeScript/Next.js, Kafka/Temporal, Kubernetes, OpenSearch/Postgres, and ML-touching services. Remote-first in Germany with regular Berlin prototyping intensives, 30 days vacation, equipment & learning budget. High autonomy and high leverage: you help decide what becomes the next generation of OIP capabilities. Offices: (Remote);