Global OT Application Developer in Köln

The Global OT Application Developer builds, maintains, tests and stabilises application components and use cases for industrial environments. The role converts approved requirements, designs and standards into reliable software, scripts, connectors, interfaces and dashboards that can be reused across applications and sites.

The Application Developer works closely with Application Engineers throughout implementation, integration, testing and stabilisation, must understand the operational and technical context in which the solution will run, and remains involved in resolving defects and technical issues. It is not an isolated coding position.

Assigned scope

• Configuration and development of use cases within Global OT applications.
• Development and maintenance of standard interfaces between Global OT applications.
• Implementation of improvements to ensure correct performance of Global OT applications and interfaces.
• Writing and maintaining technical documentation, release notes and other documentation required for proper software governance.

Primary emphasis

• Features that are stable, maintainable and suitable for reuse across applications or sites.
• Code and configurations for use cases and interfaces that follow agreed versioning and delivery practices.
• Documented components that Application Engineers can integrate, deploy and support.

Main tasks / Standard of performance

Build and maintain application components

• Development and implementation of logic within the application components required to deliver approved application functionality and use cases.
• Implement application features, scripts, connectors, interfaces and dashboards.
• Build and maintain within application domains such as IIoT, MES, SCADA, historians and maintenance systems.
• Develop database structures and application interfaces in accordance with the approved design and relevant application practices.
• Maintain existing applications and application components and adapt them when approved requirements or standards change.

Test and stabilise

• Take responsibility for the technical quality of the developments and configurations.
• Create and execute developer-level tests and support broader functional and integration testing.
• Identify, diagnose and correct defects discovered during implementation, testing and stabilisation.
• Verify that the code deliverables meet the defined requirements and behave reliably in the target application environment.
• Support Application Engineers during integration and deployment when code, configuration or component-level troubleshooting is required.

Reuse, standards and maintainability

• Ensure that development can be governed, maintained and reused beyond a single isolated requirement.
• Use reusable logics, UX/UI and features where appropriate.
• Follow agreed coding, configuration, naming and documentation standards,
• Consider performance, reliability and maintainability when implementing application requirements.
• Document code, configurations, dependencies and technical behaviour clearly enough for integration and support.

Controlled delivery and versioning

• Develop within the agreed versioning, review and release process.
• Use Git or the agreed source‑control platform for versioning and collaboration.
• Follow the applicable CI/CD, code-review, testing and release practices
• Maintain traceability between approved requirements, implemented changes and delivered versions.
• Contribute to the correction and stabilisation of released components when development changes are required.

Collaboration across the application lifecycle

• Work with the Application Owner on approved scope, priorities, standards and acceptance expectations.
• Work with Application Engineers on technical integration, testing, deployment and support needs.
• Clarify functional and technical requirements with the relevant business, engineering and architecture contributors.
• Provide transparent estimates, technical risks, dependencies and delivery status to the relevant delivery lead or Scrum Master.
• Participate in defect resolution and technical discussions with vendors or system integrators when the developed components are involved.

Application‑specific requirements

• SQL and application database development.
• Programming or scripting using Python, C#, Java or comparable technologies.
• Industrial integration using MQTT, OPC UA and REST APIs.
• Git‑based versioning and collaborative development practices.
• Implementation, testing, defect correction and feature stabilisation.
• CI/CD, code review and controlled release practices.
• Creation and maintenance of technical documentation covering code, configurations, interfaces and delivered components.

Skills and competencies

Functional & Technical Competencies

• Advanced: SQL and application database development, including database structures and application interfaces.
• Advanced: programming or scripting using Python, C#, Java or comparable technologies.
• Proficient: industrial integration using MQTT, OPC UA and REST APIs.
• Git‑based versioning, CI/CD, code review and controlled release practices.
• Working knowledge of secure software development lifecycle requirements under IEC 62443-4-1.
• Working knowledge of application domains such as IIoT (including platforms such as Ignition), MES, historians and maintenance systems.

Behavioral Competencies

• Structured, pragmatic and quality‑oriented, with strong ownership of the technical quality of own deliverables.
• Constructive challenge of requirements, designs and technical solutions where quality or maintainability is at risk.
• Clear cross‑functional communication of estimates, risks, dependencies and delivery status across engineering, business and external audiences.

Experience

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in software, computer science, automation, electrical or industrial engineering, or comparable practical experience.
• Experience developing and maintaining software components for industrial or manufacturing applications such as IIoT, MES, historians or maintenance systems; senior appointments normally require demonstrated ownership of complex application components across multiple applications or sites.
• Professional English; additional languages relevant to the assigned region are an advantage.

Working Conditions and Location

• Primary European hiring locations Barcelona and southern or western Germany.
• Home‑based or hybrid working, including collaboration with nearshore and distributed delivery teams.
• Occasional travel to manufacturing sites where development support is required.

Responsibility / Power of authority

• Choosing detailed implementation approaches within approved requirements, architecture and standards.
• Identifying technical risks and proposing improvements to components and delivery practices.
• Raising concerns about potential future issues — technical debt, scalability, maintainability or obsolescence — to the Application Owner and architecture contributors before they affect operations.
• Rejecting code or components that do not meet agreed quality and versioning practices.
• Supporting integration, deployment and troubleshooting when development expertise is required.
• The role does not own the application roadmap, backlog priorities or acceptance decisions, plant connectivity, site readiness, commissioning or operational support, and does not define platform architecture or approve material deviations from global standards; nor does it operate as an isolated programmer without testing, stabilisation and engineering collaboration.

Team work / Team membership

Communicates to

• Application Owner: approved scope, priorities, standards and acceptance expectations.
• Application Engineers: technical integration, testing, deployment and support needs; day-to-day collaboration throughout implementation and stabilisation.
• Delivery lead / Scrum Master: estimates, technical risks, dependencies and delivery status.
• Business, engineering and architecture contributors: clarification of functional and technical requirements.
• Vendors and system integrators: defect resolution and technical discussions where the developed components are involved.
• Nearshore / distributed delivery teams: shared requirements, standards, testing, versioning and documentation practices; dotted-line collaboration with Application Engineers regardless of location.

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