Renke Grunwald
Software Architect
Experience
Software Architect
Open Knowledge GmbH
Materialmeister
Industry: Architecture and Construction Client: Die Holzbauprofis
Materialmeister is a portal aiming to digitize the entire procurement process in the trades (initially focusing on roofing companies and carpentry firms). The project focus is on developing an MVP. Die Holzbauprofis is a carpentry firm specializing in residential expansions on existing buildings, located on the southern edge of the Ruhr region. They plan, produce, and install these residential extensions. Their services range from complete annexes and roof additions to converting existing attics.
Professional Focus:
- Designing the cloud architecture
- Concept and design of the CI/CD pipeline and IaC
- Advising on selection of necessary tools
- Advising and designing the cloud-native application
Technical Focus:
- AWS, Terraform, Linux
Software Architect
Open Knowledge GmbH
Requirements Specification and ERP Interface Specification
Industry: Industrial and Mechanical Engineering Client: Semcoglas Holding GmbH
At the start of the project, the electronic data interchange for the various business transactions relevant to Semcoglas Holding GmbH was not satisfactorily solved. Although there were various types of interfaces supporting exchange between the Semcoglas Group’s customers and the ERP systems at Semco branches, there was no unified, high-performance, flexible solution for standard data exchange among the companies involved. Open Knowledge GmbH supports Semcoglas Holding GmbH in creating a requirements specification for such an interface. Beyond the abstract requirements, the project also defines the core of a modern, high-performance interface specification. The scope includes analyzing technical and functional requirements, designing a RESTful API according to the OpenAPI 3 standard, and presenting the identified requirements in a requirements specification. Semcoglas Holding GmbH specializes in flat glass production and finishing, headquartered in Westerstede (Lower Saxony). The company manufactures and/or markets glazing products at over 20 sites, mainly in Germany, and holds a stake in a float glass plant that produces much of the raw material needed at the various sites.
Professional Focus:
- Requirements analysis for a modern ordering interface in the glass industry
- Sketching the interface using OpenAPI
Technical Focus:
- OpenAPI
Software Architect
Open Knowledge GmbH
Storepick
Industry: Transport and Logistics Client: Vanderlande B.V.
STOREPICK is an end-to-end, robot-assisted warehouse solution for automated carton picking, optimizing processes across the entire value chain. This solution ensures efficient handling of inbound and outbound goods and guarantees retailer-friendly delivery across various store formats. Vanderlande B.V. is a leading global system integrator for warehouse process automation and the world market leader in value-optimized automation of airport logistics and parcel market processes.
Professional Focus:
- Digitalization of warehouse logistics processes
- Advising and designing the architecture of efficient, cloud-native microservices applications
- Advising on event-driven architectures for asynchronous communication in the business context and designing event pipelines
- Advising and implementing continuous deployment (CD) and continuous integration (CI) via GitOps
- Conducting Kubernetes workshops, advising and designing orchestration of microservices applications
- Implementing the solution
Technical Focus:
- Java, Kafka, Kubernetes, GitOps, Microservices, Quarkus, Linux
Software Architect
Open Knowledge GmbH
ETS Cloud
Industry: Internet, IT, and Multimedia Client: KNX Association cvba
Migration of the ETS desktop software to a web application and creation of a cloud platform for the KNX ecosystem. KNX is a standard for building automation. KNX Association cvba is an association of companies (mainly building technology manufacturers) that advances and markets the standard and its specifications.
Professional Focus:
- Web-based platform for configuring commercial home automation systems
- Designing the architecture of the microservice application
- Conceptualizing the migration of existing software to the cloud platform
- Advising and implementing continuous deployment (CD) and continuous integration (CI) via GitOps (Flux)
- Implementing and further developing the solution
Technical Focus:
- Cloud platform, AWS, Kotlin, DevOps, Kubernetes, GitOps (Flux), Microservices
Software Developer/Architect
Open Knowledge GmbH
One Dispatch
Industry: Transport and Logistics Client: Schenker AG
OneDispatch is an application developed to support land transport operations, digitizing and optimizing existing processes. DB Schenker AG is an integrated logistics provider with global supply chains, supporting industry and trade with land transport, worldwide air and sea freight, contract logistics, and supply chain management.
Professional Focus:
- Digitalization of logistics processes for truck routes
- Advising and designing the architecture of efficient, cloud-native microservices applications
- Implementing the solution
Technical Focus:
- Cloud technologies, Kotlin, Spring, TypeScript, Angular, CSS, HTML, Kafka, Microservices
Software Developer/Architect
Open Knowledge GmbH
Connect2Terminal
Industry: Transport and Logistics Client: Schenker AG
Connect2Terminal is an app developed to support land transport operations, enabling terminal users to register and handle goods. The easy-to-use web and mobile application supports terminals in multiple countries. Connect2Terminal is not only modern in design and styled in the new DB Schenker look, but also functional, practical, and intelligent. Developed in close collaboration with business stakeholders throughout the process—from solution concept to implementation—the app includes event registration features at both parcel and shipment levels for terminal staff. DB Schenker AG is an integrated logistics provider with global supply chains, supporting industry and trade with land transport, worldwide air and sea freight, contract logistics, and supply chain management.
Professional Focus:
- Digitalization of warehouse logistics processes
- Advising and designing the architecture of efficient, cloud-native microservices applications
- Implementing the solution
Technical Focus:
- Cloud technologies, Kotlin, Spring, TypeScript, Angular, CSS, HTML, Kafka, Microservices
Software Developer/Architect
Open Knowledge GmbH
ECO
Industry: Transport and Logistics Client: Schenker AG
ECO’s main task is optimizing delivery processes. ECO supports dispatchers in efficiently coordinating delivery routes and optimally allocating resources. A core part of the project was integrating an AI-driven routing engine that receives order data and vehicle availability information to create an optimal execution plan for an entire delivery region. Inputs provided to the algorithm included opening hours, vehicle restrictions, and specific vehicle and equipment requirements. The project encompassed developing interfaces to input this data into the optimization algorithm and graphically visualizing results in various formats to make them accessible to dispatchers. Various tasks addressed during the project included complex address management, identifying duplicate addresses, managing simulation jobs as asynchronous tasks, visualizing transport routes, graphically preparing simulation data, and managing permanent and temporary address constraints. ECO enables Schenker AG to streamline its delivery processes and better utilize resources. DB Schenker AG is an integrated logistics provider with global supply chains, supporting industry and trade with land transport, worldwide air and sea freight, contract logistics, and supply chain management.
Professional Focus:
- Analysis and optimization of truck routes
- Developing a geobased address management system
Technical Focus:
- Kotlin, Spring, TypeScript, Angular, CSS, HTML, Microservices
Cloud Architect, Cloud Consultant, Trainer
Open Knowledge GmbH
Conducting Various Client Workshops
Industry: Various Clients: Various
For various clients, workshops focusing on cloud architectures and migrating applications to cloud infrastructure were conducted. This work includes architecture reviews and sketching possible architectures for each client environment. Topics also include project automation via Infrastructure as Code and designing CI/CD pipelines in the cloud, evaluating potential technologies, and teaching necessary technologies during workshops (training).
Professional Focus:
- Advising on cloud technologies and architectures
- Evaluating technologies in each client context
- Designing and planning CI/CD pipelines/automation with IaC
- Advising and designing cloud-native applications
- Knowledge transfer and training
Technical Focus:
- Various cloud technologies with a focus on AWS Cloud, IaC, DevOps, cloud architectures, cloud-native development
Software Developer/Architect
Open Knowledge GmbH
eForwarder
Industry: Transport and Logistics Client: Schenker AG
The eSchenker web portal combines established eSchenker online functions with new eServices on one platform, enabling efficient, fast, and comfortable management of logistics processes with a single access. The web application connects all transport modes in an eBusiness portal—from land transport to air and sea freight to contract logistics. It includes all the tools needed to manage each step of the transport chain, such as scheduling, pricing, booking, tracking, invoicing, and reporting. eForwarder allows DB Schenker AG customers to obtain quotes for national and international transport. DB Schenker AG is an integrated logistics provider with global supply chains, supporting industry and trade with land transport, worldwide air and sea freight, contract logistics, and supply chain management.
Professional Focus:
- Implementing a modular system for flexible wizards (frontend/backend)
- Integrating with external systems/interfaces
Technical Focus:
- Java, Spring, TypeScript, Angular, Postgres, Reactive
Software Developer
Open Knowledge GmbH
Next Generation eServices
Industry: Transport and Logistics Client: Schenker AG
The eSchenker web portal combines established eSchenker online functions with new eServices on one platform, enabling efficient, fast, and comfortable management of logistics processes with a single access. The web application connects all transport modes in an eBusiness portal—from land transport to air and sea freight to contract logistics. It includes all the tools needed to manage each step of the transport chain, such as scheduling, pricing, booking, tracking, invoicing, and reporting. The international development team works in parallel on additional features and helps migrate IT systems of subsidiaries in other countries to the eSchenker web portal. A flexible permissions model allows adaptation to regional requirements. DB Schenker AG is an integrated logistics provider with global supply chains, supporting industry and trade with land transport, worldwide air and sea freight, contract logistics, and supply chain management.
Professional Focus:
- Improving architecture and code quality
- Refactoring from Angular.js to Angular
- Implementing analytics
Technical Focus:
- Java, Spring, Angular.js, Angular
Software Developer
Open Knowledge GmbH
Yet Another Frontend
Industry: Telecommunications Client: NetCologne GmbH
Development of a tablet-based wizard for new customer internet service orders. NetCologne is a regional telecommunications provider, cable network operator, and ISP with its own network in the Cologne/Bonn metropolitan area, headquartered at Coloneum in Cologne-Ossendorf.
Professional Focus:
- React-based, tablet-first wizard for ordering internet connections for new customers
Technical Focus:
- JavaScript, React, Redux, Neo4J, CSS, HTML, Linux
Software Developer
Open Knowledge GmbH
IZAR@Mobile 5" GUI Development
Industry: Other Services Client: Diehl Metering
In addition to IZAR@NET V2 software, a 5" GUI was developed for mobile use. IZAR@Mobile V2 was tailored for a rugged mobile device to meet field service requirements for reading thermal energy meters. The application needed to provide core functionality to simplify meter reading for users. Diehl Metering, part of the Diehl Group headquartered in Nuremberg, produces measuring devices and provides data transmission and evaluation systems for energy consumption data.
Professional Focus:
- Data transfer between browser and mobile device via USB link cable for warehouse use
Technical Focus:
- JavaScript, USB, Google Chrome extensions, Linux
Software Developer
Open Knowledge GmbH
IPS
Industry: Media and Publishing Client: CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA
Further development of the white-label photo platform. CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA is Europe’s largest photo finisher.
Professional Focus:
- Implementing new user-facing features in the photo ordering area
Technical Focus:
- Java, JSP, JSF, JavaScript, HTML, CSS
Software Developer
Open Knowledge GmbH
IAV AMeDA Measurement Data Platform
Industry: Automotive and Vehicle Manufacturing Client: IAV GmbH
The AMeDA measurement data platform developed by IAV is used by leading automakers to manage all information around measurement data. The AMeDA project aims to elevate the platform and its AMeDA Analysis applications to new functional and technical levels. Besides new features, the new AMeDA version will be developed based on the current JEE standard. As a global engineering partner, IAV develops the mobility of the future, bringing together automotive and IT, hardware and software, product and service worlds with over 35 years of experience.
Professional Focus:
- Implementing a job engine based on Docker containers
Technical Focus:
- Java, Docker
Software Developer
Open Knowledge GmbH
VSA Migration Tool
Industry: Pharma, Medical Technology, Hospitals Client: VSA GmbH
The VSA product “jump” is based on the proprietary UI component framework “Marvin.” The project involves automating the migration of over 1,500 application screens from Swing to JavaFX. The goal is to create a toolset that allows configurable migration tasks, such as replacing method calls. For highly application-specific migrations, purely programmatic solutions will be provided. VSA GmbH is the market leader in pharmacy management software.
Professional Focus:
- Analyzing and implementing automated refactorings/transformations from Swing to JavaFX
Technical Focus:
- Java, Eclipse EMF
Summary
Renke Grunwald is an experienced software architect with a deep understanding of developing and maintaining mission-critical enterprise applications in both monolithic and event-driven, microservice-centric architectures.
In his role as Head of Cloud Solutions, he advises clients on all aspects of cloud computing, particularly AWS Cloud, for which he is also a Certified Solutions Architect. With his extensive, battle-tested expertise in numerous client projects, he supports companies in choosing the right technology and architecture when it comes to developing or extending legacy and new applications.
He also shares this expertise as a speaker at conferences and as a regular author in IT Spektrum and other publications.
Languages
Certifications & licenses
Certified Solutions Architect
AWS
Similar Freelancers
Discover other experts with similar qualifications and experience