About

Software engineer and systems architect in central Germany, shipping cloud-native systems and diving into bare-metal and embedded projects after hours.

Hi there, I’m David!

I began my career in tech over 10 years ago. After starting off in web development, I have been shifting my focus toward native and cloud software development, with a strong emphasis on DevOps. More recently I am also diving into embedded systems.

Every aggregate state of the tech domain, whether software, hardware, or firmware, has always been a passion of mine. Feel free to read more about my humble beginnings in “A 90s Kid’s Journey Through Early Tech”.

Current Occupation #

Since 2020, I have been working as a Software Engineer at Volkswagen Group. Currently, I am part of the in-house software development team, OneSDC, where my current subdivision delivers innovative cloud solutions for the group’s automotive R&D department. My primary responsibilities include cloud-native software development, software architecture, and infrastructure management.

In addition to my role at Volkswagen, I offer freelance systems architecture and software development services to clients worldwide. I specialize in helping small and medium-sized businesses leverage open-source solutions by customizing and deploying systems tailored to their unique needs.

This is only a rough intro. Let’s connect on LinkedIn and I’ll tell you all about it.

Technical Expertise #

An excerpt of technologies and frameworks I have used to build projects, both personally and professionally, roughly sorted by experience and preference.

Programming Languages #

I generally prefer compiled languages over interpreted ones, and I strongly favor static, strong typing for clarity and long-term maintainability. That said, I’m also comfortable with dynamic ecosystems like Python and JS/TS when they’re the right tool for the job.

• Golang
• Java
• C/C++
• C#
• Python
• JavaScript/TypeScript

Frameworks #

For personal projects, I’m cautious about leaning too heavily on frameworks, since I prefer explicit behavior over hidden abstraction and “magic”. In professional settings, however, I’ve built substantial experience delivering production systems with many industry standard frameworks, most notably:

• Spring
• .NET

Embedded #

For embedded projects, I like using popular 16/32bit microcontrollers with a great SDK to rapidly prototype ideas.

• AVR/ATmega
• STM32
• ESP32

Cloud Computing #

My preference is to build services that stay as cloud-agnostic as possible, focusing on portability and good operational practices.

• AWS
• Azure
• Docker & Kubernetes
• CloudFormation
• Terraform

OS and virtualization #

Linux is my daily driver, and I’m comfortable working close to the system when needed. I also have extensive hands-on experience with virtualization and lightweight containerization to support efficient dev, lab, and self-hosted setups.

• Debian, RHEL, Fedora, Arch
• KVM & LXC

CAD #

To round off side projects, I can take ideas from concept to prototype by designing simple parts for 3D printing and creating basic PCBs.

• Fusion 360
• KiCAD

Software/Firmware/Hardware Projects #

m2p-latency #

Using just an Arduino microcontroller, an OLED screen and a phototransistor, m2p-latency allows for measurement of system latency. It simulates mouse clicks and measures the time it takes to render a change on the computer screen. While it is not calibrated and has its own inherent latency, it provides a cheap and quick way to compare latencies across different systems and environments.

Marlin-Ai3M #

This fork of the Marlin firmware is optimized for Anycubic Mega (i3/S) 3D printers, offering a more up-to-date system than the manufacturer’s release at the time. While it was a great printer for its price, further optimization of the configuration and added functionality allowed the machine to punch way above its weight.

frigabun #

Webservice and HomeAssistant addon to enable DDNS functionality in FritzBox routers for Gandi, Porkbun and Cloudflare. This is where I book my domains, so that’s what it manages for now. The service is designed in a modular way, allowing for the easy addition of further registrar support.

movienight #

In a time when COVID made us stay at home and socialize in a virtual way, a group of friends established a ritual of hosting weekly virtual movie nights where we would sync up our streaming services. movienight streamlines the process of selecting the movie of the week for large groups. Participants can submit their suggestions as IMDB links, allowing everyone to vote for their favorite. Each week, a newsletter is sent out with the top pick.

My Homelab #

My humble homelab, consisting of 3 Debian based servers (Proxmox cluster, storage server and auxiliary server for a 3D printer). Read more about it here.

Languages #

Personal Interests #

Although I am still at an amateur level, I enjoy getting creative with photography and videography. It’s a hobby I picked up fairly recently.

Playing the piano is another source of peace in my free time. For over a decade, it was part of my daily routine. A long break in my twenties had me become a bit rusty, but I am currently trying to get serious about it again. I mostly play pieces from the Baroque and Romantic periods.

On the escapism side of things, I thoroughly enjoy playing competitive video games like Counter-Strike and Overwatch with a steady group of friends. Back when we were younger, we managed to win a few local LAN tournaments. Although we don’t have the time to compete at a high level now, we still enjoy playing together in a more laid back way just for fun’s sake.