About Me

Hi, I'm Varij Kapil — Head of Backend Engineering & Operations with 10+ years of experience in software development. Currently based in Bonn, Germany.

I lead backend engineering and operations teams through complex platform transformations—turning legacy, single-tenant systems into scalable, globally distributed multi-tenant SaaS architectures.

My focus areas include cloud-native architecture, multi-tenancy patterns, Kubernetes, platform operations, and guiding teams through both the technical and organizational shifts that SaaSification demands.

10+
Years Experience
15+
Engineers Led
3
Countries Worked
VK

What I Do

Platform Modernization

Transforming legacy monoliths into microservices using domain-driven design, strangler fig pattern, and modern frameworks like Quarkus.

Kubernetes & Cloud-Native

Building multi-tenant SaaS on Kubernetes with namespace-per-tenant isolation, geo-replicated infrastructure for global availability.

Security & Compliance

HashiCorp Vault for secrets management, automated credential rotation. Driving compliance with GDPR, TISAX, and ISO 27001.

GitOps & Observability

GitOps practices with Pulumi and Helm. Comprehensive observability with distributed tracing and metrics across all services.

Engineering Excellence

AI-driven code reviews with Claude and Qodana. ADRs for architectural decisions. Platform documentation using arc42.

Team & Org Development

Restructuring organizations using Team Topologies. Scaling teams through direct and offshore hiring. Leading team leads.

Technical Skills

Languages

  • Java (Expert)
  • SQL
  • TypeScript
  • Python

Frameworks

  • Spring Framework
  • Quarkus
  • Jakarta EE
  • JAX-RS / REST APIs

Platform & Cloud

  • Kubernetes
  • PostgreSQL
  • HashiCorp Vault
  • Docker

Tools & DevOps

  • Pulumi / Helm
  • GitLab CI/CD
  • SonarQube / Qodana
  • Liquibase
Expert / Daily use
Proficient

Work Experience

Head of Backend Software Engineering

Digital Automotive

Apr 2024 - Present

Cologne Bonn Region, Germany · Remote

Leading a team of ~15 engineers across backend development and operations, driving Digital Automotive's transformation from legacy monolith to a modern, multi-tenant SaaS platform.

  • Platform Modernization: Architected and led migration from JavaEE modular monolith to ~15 microservices using domain-driven design. Applied strangler fig pattern for incremental migration. Migrated core modules to Quarkus and transitioned from VM-per-customer to shared Kubernetes infrastructure with namespace-per-tenant isolation.
  • Global & Secure Architecture: Designing geo-replicated infrastructure for global availability. Introduced HashiCorp Vault for secrets management with automated credential rotation. Driving compliance with GDPR, TISAX, and ISO 27001.
  • Operations Transformation: Replaced fragile, manually-triggered pipelines with GitOps practices using Pulumi and Helm. Implemented comprehensive observability with distributed tracing and metrics across all services.
  • Engineering Excellence: Embedded AI into developer workflows using Claude. Transformed code review processes with AI-driven analysis, Qodana, and SonarQube. Introduced ADRs for architectural decision-making. Documented platform architecture using arc42.
  • Team & Org Development: Scaled the team through direct hiring and introduced offshore hiring practices. Restructured organization using Team Topologies, transitioning from managing individual contributors to leading team leads.

Lead Software Engineer

Capgemini

Mar 2023 - Mar 2024

Cologne Bonn Region, Germany · Hybrid

Led software engineering initiatives for enterprise clients, focusing on backend development and continuous integration practices.

  • Delivered enterprise software solutions for major clients
  • Established CI/CD best practices and development workflows
  • Mentored team members and conducted technical reviews

Head of Backend Software Development

IT Manufactory GmbH

Jun 2021 - Feb 2023

Bonn, Germany · Remote

Led the backend development team for the Digital Automotive platform, an enterprise solution serving the automotive industry.

  • Led backend development team and technical architecture decisions
  • Architected and implemented OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect authentication system
  • Coordinated database migration from Oracle to PostgreSQL
  • Migrated application server from GlassFish to Payara
  • Established CI/CD pipelines with GitLab

Software Developer

IT Manufactory GmbH

Nov 2017 - Jun 2021

Passau, Bavaria, Germany

Full-stack developer working on the Digital Automotive enterprise platform with Java backend and web frontend.

  • Developed core modules for Strategy, Acquisition, Business and Claim Management
  • Built comprehensive reporting and analytics features
  • Implemented REST APIs and backend services with Java/Jakarta EE
  • Conducted code reviews and mentored junior developers

Mobile Application Developer

NetSet Software Pvt. Ltd

Aug 2014 - Aug 2015

Chandigarh Area, India

iOS application developer building native mobile applications for various clients.

  • Developed multiple iOS applications from concept to App Store deployment
  • Built enterprise applications with offline-first capabilities
  • Created social media and consumer applications

Trainee Engineer

RF Silicon Pvt Ltd

Dec 2013 - Jun 2014

New Delhi, India

Internship focused on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) development for IoT devices.

  • Bluetooth LE profile implementation for health devices
  • Algorithm formulation for Security Manager Layer
  • iOS application development for BLE device communication

Education

M.Sc. Informatik (Computer Science)

Universität Passau

2015 - 2017 | Passau, Germany

Thesis: Towards an Assembly Line for the Construction of Complex Machine Learning Algorithms

Focus areas: Software Engineering, Machine Learning, Distributed Systems

B.Tech Computer Science & Engineering

Bhaddal Institutes

2010 - 2014 | Punjab, India

Activities: Annual Cultural and Technical Fest Core Organizer, ISTE Member, Robotics Society

Certifications

Liquibase Certified Practitioner
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals

University Projects

Visualisation of BFT-SMaRt

Mar 2017 - May 2017

Universität Passau

A visualization library for BFT-SmaRt distributed system that shows system diagram, system statistics, messages exchanges and total number of message exchanges between the servers and the client. Visualizations built in D3.js.

Apache Kafka D3.js Python Node.js Java

BETO: Better Together

Feb 2017 - Apr 2017

Universität Passau

A community app where people can offer help and time in various categories—companionship, language instruction, cooking nights, or band formation. Organizations can host events like football tournaments or parties. Features integrated chat with automated translation.

Mobile Development Real-time Chat Translation API

CoRE Directories: Web Of Things

Oct 2016 - Feb 2017

Universität Passau

Implemented CoRE Directory discovery method for Web of Things initiative using COAP protocol. IoT devices connecting to the network are automatically added to a directory with descriptions of their functions and services.

COAP Node.js PostgreSQL Intel Galileo Java

FriendFinder

Oct 2015 - Feb 2016

Universität Passau

An iOS application to find people with similar interests near you. Backed by a Machine Learning backend using NLP algorithms to match interests from Facebook profiles and user descriptions.

Swift Python Apache Lucene NLP iOS

Beyond Code

Platform Modernization Cloud-Native Architecture Kubernetes Team Topologies Cycling Badminton Open Source

Let's Connect

Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or check out my projects on GitHub. I enjoy discussing technology and sharing knowledge with the community.

LinkedIn GitHub Get in Touch