01
Find the actual goal
I challenge the brief until we understand which problem truly needs to be solved.
About Jan Ridderbusch
Technical depth. Clear language. Focus on the real problem.
I am a software engineer and tech lead based in Cologne. I help people turn complex software into an understandable, defensible decision – and I implement the most important technical step myself.
What drives me
Not simply working through tickets. First understanding what is actually needed.
I enjoy the moments when a confusing technical situation becomes a clear decision. I listen closely, structure requirements and risks, and translate them into a path that technical and non-technical stakeholders can support together.
My experience spans test automation and DevOps, backend and API architecture, and technical leadership in the Catena-X and dataspace ecosystem. Today, I combine those perspectives with LLM applications, RAG, agents, and AI-assisted software development.
Good work is not only technically correct. It needs to fit the product, work reliably in everyday use, and be handed over so others can continue with confidence.
My standard: after working together, you should not depend on me. You should understand your product and the next decisions more clearly.
How I think and work
Care without unnecessary complexity.
Four qualities shape my work, whether I am assessing a prototype, designing an architecture, or helping a team make a difficult decision.
02
Explain clearly and honestly
Risks, options, and consequences become understandable without technical smoke screens.
03
Bring structure to uncertainty
I prioritise, plan, and turn open questions into concrete next steps.
04
Learn new contexts quickly
I approach new domains and technologies analytically and connect them with proven engineering practice.
Working together
What others value about my work.
The most credible evidence of how I work comes from people with whom I have solved complex problems.
Jan supported us in building a new medical startup on the technical side. I value his reliability, straightforward communication, and great teamwork.
Stephan M. Czaja
CEO · CXMXO
Jan supported our team as a backend developer across multiple software projects, and I can only praise his skills and qualities. Jan is a very structured and experienced developer. With his strong problem-solving skills, he resolved the most complex situations for himself and other team members. Beyond his technical abilities, Jan is also a great teammate. His communication skills and willingness to share knowledge quickly made him a valued member of our team.
Dr. Sebastian Opriel
CTO · sovity GmbH
Core Competencies
The strengths I bring to every project
Critical Thinking
Systematic analysis of complex technical challenges to make well-founded, sustainable decisions.
Problem Solving
Translating ambiguous requirements into clean, maintainable architectures - efficiently and purposefully.
AI Engineering
Designing and integrating intelligent systems and AI-powered workflows into production-ready applications.
Backend & API Architecture
Building scalable, well-documented APIs and robust backend systems that power modern applications.
Technologies & Tools
The tools I work with
Languages
Kotlin Java TypeScript JavaScript Python SQL Go Bash
Frontend & Backend
Vue.js Nuxt.js React Next.js Tailwind CSS Quarkus jOOQ PostgreSQL MongoDB REST APIs OAuth 2.0 / OIDC OpenTelemetry
DevOps & Infrastructure
Docker Kubernetes Helm CI/CD GitHub Actions Gradle Git Linux
AI & LLM Engineering
LLM APIs (Claude, OpenAI) RAG Pipelines Prompt Engineering AI Agents / MCP
Tools & Platforms
GitHub GitLab IntelliJ Claude Code OpenAI Codex Jira Confluence Agile/Scrum
Dataspace & Domain
Catena-X Eclipse Dataspace Components (EDC) Dataspace Protocol Sovereign Data Exchange Cybersecurity Digital Health / MedTech E-Commerce / PIM IoT / Sensor Systems
Professional Experience
My career journey
Freelance Software Engineer
CurrentApril 2023 – present
Designing and building custom web applications and backend systems for SMEs, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations. Consulting on software architecture and technology strategy.
sovity GmbH - Lead Application Development
July 2025 – October 2026
Leading application development in the Catena-X and dataspace ecosystem. Responsible for architecture decisions, code quality, and team growth.
sovity GmbH - Full-Stack Developer
January 2025 – June 2025
Full-stack development in the Catena-X ecosystem within an agile team. Designed and implemented new features based on Eclipse Dataspace Components (EDC) - in parallel with freelance work.
TU Dortmund - Computer Science, B. Sc.
October 2016 – April 2023
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science with a minor in Theoretical Medicine. Solid foundation in algorithms, software engineering, and systems programming.
G DATA CyberDefense AG - Test Automation Engineer
August 2020 – March 2023
Built and maintained end-to-end test automation infrastructure. Designed testing strategies to secure CI/CD pipelines for enterprise security products.
communicode AG - DevOps Engineer
August 2019 – July 2020
Developed a deployment prototype to streamline development and delivery workflows for client websites. Automated build and release processes.
bee42 solutions GmbH - DevOps Engineer
January 2019 – July 2019
Delivered DevOps training and technical consulting. Built prototypes and organized a professional conference.
Fraunhofer ISST - Mobile Developer
March 2017 – December 2018
Developed a mobile application to support epilepsy patients in daily life, integrated with a sensor-based monitoring system.
Let’s talk
You built something and need a clear technical perspective?
In a free 30-minute conversation, we clarify where your product stands and whether the Go-Live Sprint is the right next step.