Open Source Software Engineer (mid/senior) - kcp (CNCF Sandbox Project) (f,m,d)

Location: Remote (Time zone: CET +/- 4hrs) on-site/hybrid in Hamburg, Germany. We are a remote-first company.

Shape the Future of Developer Platforms

The kcp project is redefining how organizations build multi-tenant platforms at scale. As a CNCF Sandbox project, kcp provides a horizontally scalable Kubernetes control plane that powers next-generation developer platforms from large EU initiatives like Apeirora, CNCF contributor portal, to Kubermatic's own Developer Platform. We're tackling one of modern enterprises' hardest problems: how to bring a single pane of glass, a single control panel to tackle the complexity of the modern IT landscape inside companies. It is not only a technology, but a foundation and framework to work with heterogeneous technologies that we manage at scale.

What You'll Be Doing

• Develop and maintain upstream kcp projects under the CNCF umbrella, contributing to a project envisioned to support one million workspaces across 10,000 shards.
• Design and implement Kubernetes controllers and operators that power multi-tenant platforms at scale.
• Write secure, well-tested, and performant code that meets production standards for distributed systems.
• Implement CI/CD automation and end-to-end testing workflows that ensure reliability at scale.
• Engage with the CNCF community and contribute to roadmap discussions for kcp and related projects.
• Represent Kubermatic's values in public communications and community contributions.
• Participate in code reviews, maintaining high standards for a distributed systems environment.
• Contribute to the Kubermatic Developer Platform.

What We're Looking For

• Real-world experience building Kubernetes controllers and operators, with an in-depth understanding of Kubernetes API machinery and core controllers.
• Proven ability to write clean, maintainable, and efficient code for cloud infrastructure.
• Comfort with container technologies, cloud-native architectures, and the challenges of building systems at scale.
• Ability to articulate complex technical and architectural problems and propose iterative solutions.
• A pragmatic and collaborative mindset with a focus on results and shipping quality software (we often pair on complex features).
• Excellent English communication skills for documentation, code reviews, and community engagement.
• Track record of contributions to open source projects in the cloud-native space is a strong plus.
• Experience with CNCF projects or Kubernetes ecosystem tools is highly desirable.
  

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• B2B contracts available, with annual paid time off plus local bank holidays
• Remote-first: work from anywhere in Europe (CET ±4h)
• A dynamic yet laid-back team environment
• Regular hackathons and company offsite meetings
• Best-in-class development tools of your choice
• Full support for training, certifications (CKA, Linux Foundation, etc.), and conference attendance
• As a CNCF member, you get access to certified courses and first-class information about the Kubernetes ecosystem
• Speaker support: we'll back you if you want to present at events
• Active community involvement: enjoy our meetups and our flagship community conference, ContainerDays

About Kubermatic

Kubermatic has a long-standing commitment to open source and the cloud-native community. We're building platforms that enable organizations to deliver software faster and more reliably. Our work on kcp isn't just about technology; it's about making powerful infrastructure accessible and simple to use at any scale.

Process

1. A 30-minute call with our People Manager
2. A 90-minute technical interview with two members of the team
3. A 30-minute meeting with Engineering Leadership
4. A 45-minute meeting with Sebastian Scheele (Technical Co-founder and CEO)