(Senior) Architect Control Systems & Integration (m/f/d)

Net Zero is a specialised consultancy for energy infrastructure and transformation. We work at the intersection of the energy sector, digitalisation, data management and software development. The energy sector is changing fundamentally: more volatility, more data, more systems, more operational complexity. This increases the need for people who can understand, design and help build digital solutions themselves. With us, you lead topics on your own responsibility, work closely with decision-makers and business units and help shape a consulting offering that makes the energy sector more digital, more data-driven and more future-proof.

You design system landscapes from the control system to the cloud and justify your architecture decisions in a way others can follow. Whether you have worked as a solution, integration or enterprise architect for years or have delivered cloud, container and integration topics in your first years on the job and now want to move into architecture: both fit. Depending on your experience, you join us at junior or senior level. We will clarify this together during the application process.

Our goal: grid operators should master their own systems instead of depending on individual vendors. To get there, we rely on open standards and open source. You don't need to know the standards and systems of grid operations yet, as long as you are ready to dig in thoroughly. We work to the highest quality standards in our consulting and are looking for someone who shares that standard.

Your responsibilities

• Solution and integration architecture: You design and own solution and integration architectures across IT/OT boundaries, from the control system to adjacent platforms and business applications. When you start, you work closely with experienced architects.
• Data models & interfaces: You design data models and interfaces, for example based on CIM/CGMES, and connect process communication.
• Security architecture: You develop security and zone architectures in line with the requirements of critical infrastructure.
• Operating models: You evaluate operating models between on-premises, sovereign cloud and hyperscalers and justify decisions transparently.
• Documentation & communication: You document architecture in a structured way (e.g. arc42, ArchiMate, Architecture Decision Records) and make it understandable for business and management.
• Strengthening independence: You advise our clients on reducing vendor dependencies and making targeted use of open standards and open-source components.

Your profile

• A completed degree (master's or Diplom) in computer science, business informatics, electrical engineering or a comparable technical field of study. Strong academic results and analytical sharpness are a clear plus for us.
• Relevant professional experience in software development, IT architecture, integration or IT consulting, ideally in regulated or safety-critical environments.
• Experience with architectures based on common technologies, such as container orchestration (Kubernetes, OpenShift), cloud platforms (in particular Azure, AWS or STACKIT), data and analytics platforms (Microsoft Fabric, Databricks), messaging and streaming (Kafka) and infrastructure as code.
• Experience with integration patterns such as event-driven architectures and API-based integration, as well as with data modelling and interface design in heterogeneous system landscapes.
• A basic understanding of security architectures.
• You think entrepreneurially and solution-oriented, spot opportunities early and are driven to visibly move topics forward.
• Business-fluent German and good English.

For a senior-level start, you also bring:

• Several years of experience as a solution, integration or enterprise architect in complex, ideally regulated or safety-critical environments.
• A solid understanding of security architectures, ideally also in OT environments.
• The ability to argue convincingly for technical target pictures, including towards vendors and operations.

A plus:

• Experience in the energy sector, in particular with grid control systems from market leaders or open-source stacks.
• Knowledge of CIM/CGMES (IEC 61970/61968/62325) or communication standards such as IEC 61850, IEC 60870-5-104 or ICCP/TASE.2.
• Knowledge of IEC 62443 as well as KRITIS and NIS-2 requirements.
• Experience with LF Energy projects such as PowSyBl, OperatorFabric or SEAPATH.
• TOGAF or iSAQB certification.
• Experience with ENTSO-E data exchange processes.

What we offer

• Visible responsibility: You work on projects and topics that have immediate impact, with direct sparring with the founders and short paths to decisions.
• A modern way of working: Fast iterations, a modern toolchain, AI assistance and pragmatic collaboration instead of long approval loops.
• An attractive setup: Flexible working, attractive pay, honest feedback and an environment where performance is visible.
• Growth with perspective: You grow professionally, methodically and entrepreneurially, with room for your own ideas, responsibility and development.