Lead AI-Driven Developer (f / m/d)

Description

We are looking for a highly autonomous Lead AI-Driven Developer (f/m/d) with a strong backend focus to become the go-to technical expert in our Digital Unit. You own problems end-to-end, from understanding requirements to delivering production-ready, tested, and well-documented solutions, without the need for constant guidance or multiple revision cycles. You are someone who thrives in complexity: you navigate microservice architectures and cloud-native systems with ease, debug critical production issues calmly and methodically, and consistently leave things better than you found them. And crucially - you are a true AI enthusiast. Not just curious about AI, but actively using it in your daily workflow for over a year, with at least six months of hands-on experience working with Agentic AI frameworks. You don't just use AI to write code, you use it to amplify your impact, accelerate delivery, and enhance engineering excellence. You will work closely alongside our Senior Architect, DevOps, DevSecOps, and UX Designer as the technical development expert within our team, and you will:

About GEA

• GEA is one of the largest suppliers for the food and beverage processing industry and a wide range of other process industries. Approximately 18,000 employees in more than 60 countries contribute significantly to GEA’s success – come and join them! We offer interesting and challenging tasks, a positive working environment in international teams and opportunities for personal development and growth in a global company.

• Why join GEA

• GEA is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will therefore receive consideration for employment without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, world view, national origin, genetics, disability, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other protected characteristic required by applicable law. Applicants with disabilities are welcome and will be given special consideration if they are equally qualified.

Your profile and qualifications

• Several years of hands-on experience in full-stack software development, ideally within the Java / Spring Boot ecosystem

• Strong expertise in API development, integration testing, and troubleshooting complex production issues

• Solid understanding of authorization concepts, permission models, and secure application design

• Proven ability to design and implement scalable technical solutions with a high degree of autonomy

• Experience working with Azure Cloud services, particularly AKS and Service Bus, is a plus

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly and collaborate effectively across teams

• Hands-on experience using modern AI-powered development tools, including AI-assisted debugging, analysis, and development workflows

• Solid understanding of a modern AI-augmented development environment setup

• Experienced in AI-assisted analysis & debugging, you know how to prompt for root cause analysis, not just code generation

• Has successfully used AI Agents for parallel development in at least one real project

• Familiar with "plan mode" and other structured AI techniques for efficient multi-tasking and task decomposition

• Actively using AI tools for 1+ year; 6+ months hands-on with Agentic AI workflows

• Work at the intersection of modern cloud architecture and cutting-edge AI tooling

• Directly shape the technical direction of a growing digital unit

• A team that genuinely values autonomy, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement

• No micromanagement. We hire experts and trust them.

• Opportunity to define how AI is used across the development team, not just follow someone else's process

• Competitive compensation and attractive employee benefits

• Global Bonus System

• Flexible and hybrid work arrangements

• 30 days of annual vacation, plus paid time off on December 24. and December 31.

• Access to Corporate Benefits and exclusive employee discounts

• Continuous learning and career development opportunities

• International exposure within a global organization

• Health and well-being initiatives

• A modern, collaborative, and innovation-driven work environment

Your responsibilities and tasks

• Take end-to-end ownership of our solutions, from architecture and development to testing, documentation, and deployment

• Shape and maintain our development practices and standards, ensuring high quality and consistency across the codebase

• Empower and upskill fellow developers in effective AI-assisted development workflows

• Design and evolve our development processes to keep pace with the rapidly changing AI landscape

• Ensure our systems run smoothly and as autonomously as possible, proactively identifying and eliminating friction points

• Provide expert technical guidance and actively contribute to solution design, because your voice matters here