Head of Engineering (Kotlin/Cloud/IoT Architecture)

(!)Please note: This position is open to EU-based candidates only.

Job title: Head of Engineering & Senior Solutions Architect

Role Type: Hands-on Leadership / Strategic

Focus: Architecture, Team Strategy, Backend/Cloud Core, IoT Integration

Role Summary:

We are looking for a Head of Engineering to take ownership of Ionnyk’s technical strategy. You will replace a key leader who balanced high-level architecture with hands-on implementation. You will oversee the entire stack—from the Cloud (GCP/Kubernetes) to the Backend (Kotlin/Spring Boot) and its interaction with our IoT devices. You will act as the bridge between business units, external hardware stakeholders, and the software team.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Strategy & Leadership: Define the technical roadmap, gather needs from business units, and coordinate internal/external stakeholders. Define and lead the overall technical strategy for the engineering team.

• Architectural Oversight: Define and maintain the global solution architecture for our e-paper frame fleet. Ensure it is robust, scalable, and secure.

• Hands-on Development: Actively contribute to the core backend, utilizing Kotlin, Spring Boot, and complex patterns like CQRS/Event Sourcing.

• Security & Compliance: Act as the Security Officer/DPO, implementing security best practices across the infrastructure. Ensure the implementation and adherence to best practices in IT security.

• Infrastructure & DevOps: Oversee the GCP infrastructure, Kubernetes orchestration, and GitOps deployments via FluxCD.

• IoT & Firmware Strategy: Understand the interaction between the cloud and NRF5-based hardware (BLE, OTA updates, bootloaders) to guide hardware/software integration.

• Business Alignment & Solutioning: Gather requirements from various IONNYK business units, guarantee the implemented technical solutions meet business needs, and identify and propose adapted technical solutions to meet evolving business requirements.

• Coordination: Coordinate all internal and external technical stakeholders.

Required Competencies:

• Backend & Data: Expert in Kotlin (v1.9+) and Spring Boot 3.x. Deep knowledge of JPA/Hibernate and PostgreSQL. Advanced knowledge of Kotlin and Spring Boot 3.x for backend development.

• Architecture & Design: Expert in defining and designing REST API systems. Experience with 3-tier architecture, Hexagonal architecture (Ports & Adapters), and CQRS. Proficiency in architectural patterns like CQRS / Hexagonal is a strong asset.

• Cloud & DevOps: Advanced knowledge of Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Advanced experience with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes), including GitOps (Flux CD). Experience with CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI).

• Frontend (Web): Advanced knowledge of React and TypeScript for modern web development.

• Security: Experience implementing OAuth2/JWT and managing security policies.

• IoT/Embedded Awareness: Familiarity with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication or embedded systems concepts is highly valued. Intermediate knowledge of Mobile Development stacks (React Native, Expo) and Embedded Systems (NRF5, BLE) to provide effective oversight.

​What’s in it for you:

• ​Strategic Impact: Direct influence on the tech roadmap and product evolution.

• ​Modern Stack: No legacy. Kotlin 1.9+, Spring Boot 3.x, K8s, and Hexagonal Architecture.

•​ Innovation: Work at the intersection of IoT, Art, and Cloud (E-paper tech).

​Ownership: Full autonomy over engineering culture and architectural standards.

​• Flexibility: Hybrid work model and focus on results, not micromanagement.

​• Package: Competitive salary and the best hardware for your setup.