Tech Lead (m/f/d) – Innovation

ZABEL; Berlin; Remote; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote within Germany

Hybrid option in Berlin

Job summary

ZABEL is seeking a hands-on Tech Lead for innovation projects in Germany. You will own architecture while coding across frontend, backend, and data pipelines, shaping scalable, production-ready systems in TypeScript, Node.js, React/Next.js, Kafka, Kubernetes, and Helm.

The role blends leadership with active development, prototype-driven delivery, and mentoring across cross-functional teams. Remote within Germany with a Berlin hybrid option, enabling close collaboration with Engineering, Product,

Qualifications

• Senior/Staff/Principal Engineer or Tech Lead with hands-on approach.
• Strong background in TypeScript and Node.js with full-stack depth.
• Experience with distributed systems and event-driven architecture (Kafka preferred).
• Solid hands-on experience with Kubernetes, containers, and production-grade systems.
• Strong documentation skills, including RFCs, ADRs, and handoff docs.
• Ability to operate in ambiguous environments and make sound technical decisions.
• Nice to have Python, ML-adjacent systems, search/graph platforms, or regulated industries.

Responsibilities

• Driving technical leadership across innovation and discovery initiatives
• Building end-to-end vertical slices across UI, APIs, and pipelines
• Making architecture decisions with a productization focus
• Working with TypeScript, Node.js, React/Next.js, Kafka, Kubernetes, and Helm
• Shaping systems with observability, security, multitenancy, and clean handoffs
• Collaborating closely with Engineering, Product, Design, and Data/ML teams
• Developing prototypes for real deployment environments including SaaS, on-prem, and air-gapped setups

Skills

TypeScript

Node.js

React/Next.js

Kafka

Kubernetes

Distributed systems

Observability

Security

Multitenancy

RFCs/ADRs

Python

Tools

Helm

Containers

Job description

Tech Lead (m/f/d) – Innovation | Full-Stack TypeScript | Remote in Germany

For a highly technical innovation role, I'm looking for a hands-on Tech Lead who not only sets architectural direction but is also deeply involved in execution. This is an opportunity for someone who sees prototypes not as throwaway work, but as the foundation for scalable, production-ready solutions across frontend, backend, and event-driven systems.

This role combines technical leadership, architecture, prototyping, and mentoring in a modern environment built around TypeScript, Node.js, React/Next.js, Kafka, Kubernetes, and a strong security and observability mindset.

What you'll be working on

• Driving technical leadership across innovation and discovery initiatives
• Building end-to-end vertical slices across UI, APIs, and pipelines
• Making architecture decisions with a focus on productization, not demo code
• Working with TypeScript, Node.js, React/Next.js, Kafka, Kubernetes, and Helm
• Shaping systems with strong focus on observability, security, multitenancy, and clean technical handoffs
• Collaborating closely with Engineering, Product, Design, and Data/ML teams
• Developing prototypes for real deployment environments including SaaS, on-prem, and air-gapped setups

What you should bring

• Several years of experience as a Senior / Staff / Principal Engineer or Tech Lead
• Strong background in TypeScript / Node.js with real full-stack depth
• Experience with distributed systems and event-driven architecture, ideally Kafka
• Solid hands-on experience with Kubernetes, containers, and production-grade systems
• Strong technical documentation skills, including RFCs, ADRs, and handoff documentation
• Confidence operating in ambiguous environments and making sound technical decisions
• Nice to have: experience with Python, ML-adjacent systems, search/graph platforms, or regulated industries

What's in it for you

• A highly senior role with real technical ownership and room to shape
• The chance to combine leadership and hands-on engineering at a high level
• Remote within Germany, with a hybrid option in Berlin
• The opportunity to work on technically challenging, future-facing products and systems