The role
Our workplace IT and platform operations currently run as separate teams , but the boundaries no longer make sense: identity, access, domains, networks and security cut across both. You would bring them together and lead them as one unit. You would own how IT works across the group, from a new laptop to a production Kubernetes cluster.This is not a hands-off, manager-only role. You would lead from the front: you jump into incidents, write the Terraform, debug the network, and show your team how it’s done. You spend a real part of your week hands-on, and you earn respect through skill, not title.
What you’ll do
- Lead a distributed team of around 8 engineers across several European sites, covering workplace IT and platform operations. You coach by doing: pairing, reviewing, and taking on hard technical problems yourself.
- Stay hands-on: own critical parts of the infrastructure yourself, take part in on-call, and set the technical standard by example.
- Own operations of our SaaS infrastructure: AWS, a self-hosted Kubernetes cluster and around 350 virtual servers.
- Own workplace IT for around 200 users: devices, device management, VPN, office networks, firewalls, accounts and user support.
- Build one consistent model for identity and access management across the group: Microsoft 365 / Entra ID, SSO, 2FA, password management, DNS and domains, onboarding and offboarding across all systems.
- Set priorities, SLAs and an on-call setup that works without heroes.
- Drive security and compliance: ISMS, GDPR, audit readiness, and NIS2 where relevant.
- Own the IT budget, vendors and hosting contracts. Keep cloud and hosting costs under control.
- Standardize and automate: infrastructure as code, documentation, ticketing, runbooks.
- Be the go-to counterpart for product, engineering and management on infrastructure decisions.
What you bring
- At least 6 years of hands-on work in infrastructure and operations, including 3+ years leading teams while staying technically active.
- Strong hands-on skills in cloud and platform operations: AWS, Kubernetes, Linux, networking, Terraform or similar IaC tools.
- Solid knowledge of workplace IT: Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Intune and/or Jamf, VPN, firewalls.
- Practical experience with security and compliance frameworks such as ISO 27001, SOC 2 or comparable.
- Experience leading distributed, multi-country teams, and willingness to travel regularly between our sites (around 20–25%).
- You decide, prioritize hard and explain things clearly to engineers and non-technical people alike.
- You still enjoy getting stuck in - if you haven’t touched a terminal in years, this isn’t the role for you.
- Experience merging or restructuring IT teams is a strong plus.
- Fluent English is essential, with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. German language skills are a strong advantage.
- Proven professional experience in Austria and/or Germany, with a good understanding of local business practices, workplace culture and stakeholder expectations.
- Demonstrated experience leading multicultural, internationally diverse teams, ideally within a European business environment. Strong intercultural communication skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across different nationalities and working styles.
- This position is based at our headquarters in Vienna. Candidates must already have the legal right to work in Austria. Relocation assistance is not provided; candidates relocating to Vienna would be responsible for their own relocation arrangements.
What we offer
- A real mandate: you design the setup, you don’t just inherit it.
- Direct line to group management and short decision paths.
- Hybrid work, flexible hours.
- Competitive salary in the range of EUR 80K-95K annual gross, depending on location and experience, plus a performance-based bonus from the second year onwards.