IT/OT Platform Engineer - Grid Control Systems (m/w/d)

IT/OT Platform Engineer – Grid Control Systems (m/f/d)

Cologne – Full-time/Part-time – Immediate start – Permanent position.

Responsibilities

• You ensure the stable and highly available operation of KRITIS control systems and core infrastructure components—with particular attention to the sensitive IT/OT interface.
• In addition, you will assume technical responsibility for IT components in OT environments, e.g., networks, servers, virtualization platforms, and operating systems.
• You will further develop and maintain standardized IT/OT architectures for the department.
• Furthermore, you will analyze complex malfunctions, resolve them permanently, and also perform relevant tasks while on call.
• You will plan, evaluate, and implement changes—always taking into account risk, availability, and stability requirements.
• You will also evaluate new technologies, system components, and architectural approaches with regard to operational security, integrability, and regulatory requirements.
• You will contribute to the implementation and compliance with the ISO/IEC 27001 family of standards in the IT/OT environment.
• You will also ensure that complete technical documentation is maintained—as a basis for operations, audits, and traceability.
• In addition, you will manage and evaluate the services of internal and external service providers from a technical perspective and approve the results.

Job Requirements

• You hold a bachelor’s degree in computer science, business informatics, or a comparable qualification and have several years of practical experience in operating complex IT/OT infrastructure platforms.
• You operate, administer, and monitor Kubernetes clusters and have experience with containerized workloads, cluster networking, resource management, and the high-availability operation of platform environments.
• You have in-depth knowledge of server, storage, and virtualization platforms, for example in the context of virtualized data center or IT/OT infrastructure platforms.
• You are familiar with modern network and security architectures in IT/OT environments, including segmentation, zone architectures, and controlled transitions between office IT and OT networks, as well as corresponding firewall concepts.
• You implement technical security measures for critical infrastructures, such as system hardening, role-based access controls, logging, monitoring, and secure operating models for platform and container environments.
• You are familiar with high-availability system architectures, including redundancy, failover, and disaster recovery concepts for security‑ and supply‑critical platforms.
• Ideally, you have experience in automated IT/OT platform operations, such as infrastructure automation, observability, or platform monitoring.
• You have experience with messaging and communication protocols in distributed systems, for example with message brokers such as MQTT or RabbitMQ, and are familiar with industrial communication protocols such as IEC 60870‑5‑104 (IEC 104) in the context of energy or control systems.
• Ideally, you are familiar with information security standards such as the ISO 27001 series and their application in the operation of IT infrastructures.

Benefits & Perks

Salary: Pay grade 12 (≈ €71 000–97 000 per year) with variable compensation, company pension plan, and other benefits.

• Healthcare: Sports & wellness programs, subsidized membership in the Urban Sports Club.
• Professional Development: Individual support and training tailored to your needs.
• Job Security: A crisis‑proof job in a future‑oriented industry.
• Company Pension Plan: Attractive company pension plan and capital‑forming benefits.
• Climate‑friendly commuting: Commute to work with a subsidized Deutschlandticket or a leased (e-)bike.
• Company culture: A traditional Cologne‑based company with a spirit of innovation.
• Work‑life balance: Optimally balance work, family, and leisure time.
• Childcare: Company daycare (7 a.m.–6 p.m.), summer camps, and emergency childcare.