Christoph

This article was created with the support of AI and has been carefully reviewed and edited by the author.

My Journey

A look at my professional development — from university to where I am today.

IT Architect and Software Engineer at REWE digital (since October 2011)

Since October 2011, I have been part of REWE digital, the largest IT service provider of the REWE Group. During this time, the company has undergone a massive organizational and cultural transformation:

  • It evolved from a classical silo-based organization into a modern, functionally oriented product organization with cross-functional teams that develop and operate their systems end-to-end.
  • The guiding principle became “You build it, you run it, you fix it” — an evolution of Werner Vogels’ well-known “You build it, you run it” philosophy.
  • REWE digital introduced a clear separation between disciplinary leadership and functional leadership.
  • The company expanded internationally by opening subsidiaries in several European countries, transforming itself into an international enterprise.

IT Architect (since December 2020)

When REWE digital formalized IT Architecture as a dedicated profession in late 2020, I was among the first to join the newly established, company-wide architecture organization, helping to anchor architectural excellence within our product teams from day one.

Transitioning from software engineering to full-time architecture shifted my focus from writing code to shaping systems, domains, and organizational structures. I introduced and applied a range of architectural methods and standards that had not previously been part of the company’s daily practice, including:

  • domain-driven design (DDD) in its various facets,
  • structured documentation using arc42 and ArchiMate, complementing BPMN and UML,
  • and facilitating discussions around microservices vs. monoliths — particularly the question of how “micro” a microservice should be.

If I were to recommend only one book on software architecture, it would be The Software Architect Elevator: Redefining the Architect’s Role in the Digital Enterprise by Gregor Hohpe.
The book introduces the well-known elevator metaphor, describing architects as the connecting element between all “floors” of an organization — from the penthouse (management) to the machine room (implementation and technical details).

Additionally, Hohpe highlights a broad set of challenges for architects — and employees in general — structured around the key themes of communication, organization, and transformation.

Software Engineer (October 2011 – November 2020)

From October 2011 to November 2020, I worked as a Software Engineer and accompanied the company on a long technological journey:

  • I began by developing batch jobs on an IBM Z mainframe and building applications on Tomcat servers running on virtual Linux machines — all of which required manual configuration via Jira tickets.
  • By 2020, my team was developing Spring Boot services and Angular applications deployed on Kubernetes clusters, with sophisticated CI/CD pipelines handling deployment, configuration, and operations automatically.

A major personal influence during this period was the book Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship by Robert C. Martin.
It inspired me to adopt practices such as test-driven development, which significantly improved the quality and structure of my code. I also engaged with the Clean Code Developer community, which provided practical guidance for applying clean coding principles within teams.

Research Associate at Fraunhofer IAIS (July 2007 – September 2011)

During this period, I worked as a Research Associate at Fraunhofer IAIS, contributing to several applied research projects and publishing most of my academic work.

My first project assignment was the research initiative DESIRE, where I contributed to the development of the system’s central control engine. This work built directly on my robotics experience from my university years.

While DESIRE served as my initial entry point into the institute’s project landscape, the core and most significant part of my work over the entire work period at Fraunhofer IAIS was conducting studies for the German Armed Forces. This included:

  • designing and running simulations using data farming methodologies,
  • analyzing the resulting data to support decision‑making,
  • and applying optimization techniques—such as genetic algorithms and linear optimization—to specific military scenarios.

This formed the backbone of my work at Fraunhofer IAIS and provided deep experience in simulation, optimization, and applied AI methods within complex real-world environments.

Computer Science Student at RWTH Aachen University (October 2001 – June 2007)

I studied Computer Science at RWTH Aachen University and graduated with a German Diploma in Computer Science (equivalent to a Master’s degree).
During my advanced studies, I specialized in knowledge-based systems.

From December 2004 to December 2006, I worked as a Student Research Assistant at the Knowledge-Based Systems Group. This position marked my introduction to robotics and shaped much of my later academic interest.

I was an active member of RWTH Aachen’s RoboCup team AllemaniACs, competing in the Middle Size League of the RoboCup competition.

Through this work, I gained hands-on experience in:

  • robotics hardware and software integration,
  • processing sensor data (e.g., camera vision, laser range readings) into internal world models.

Community & Personal Interests

  • Cultural Heritage & Engagement: As an active member of Ernte-Verein Donrath 1925 e.V., I am deeply committed to preserving local traditions. I value the strong sense of community and the collective effort required to maintain these generations-old customs.
  • Social Commitment: Every Shrove Tuesday (Veilchendienstag), I participate in the traditional procession of Ääzebär e.V. Lohmar. Our mission is charitable: we collect donations for the local Red Cross and support various local charitable and non-profit community initiatives.
  • Sports & Team Spirit: I stay active through a balance of individual and team sports. I am a lifelong supporter of 1. FC Köln, embodying the local “Rhenish resilience” by standing by my club through every high and low. To keep fit, I go jogging regularly and enjoy the camaraderie of a weekly football match with friends.
  • Lifelong Learning & Gaming: I am an avid reader, constantly exploring new perspectives through literature—both professional and fiction. In my downtime, I enjoy gaming, which I appreciate for its storytelling, complex mechanics, and the strategic thinking it requires.