Real Change Begins with People – Innovative Technologies and New Ways of Working

How did your journey at Audi begin?

Sebastian: It started a few years ago when I, along with two colleagues from the IT infrastructure, began exploring Kubernetes – a technology for managing modern applications and their computing resources. At the time, Kubernetes was still a relatively new, but highly promising, concept. We saw its potential to fundamentally change how Audi handles IT and infrastructure.

Together, we established the Kubernetes Competence Center, focusing on building expertise around Kubernetes and spreading this knowledge throughout the company. Once we had laid this foundation, we created the Container Competence and Platforms Team to further develop the container strategy.

What role does the container strategy play at Audi?

Sebastian: My team is building cloud infrastructure. The key thing to understand is that a cloud isn’t a single place, but a network of decentralized services, with the associated computing power spread all over the world. The cloud functions like public transportation for computing power, in contrast to a personal computer (PC), where the computing power is dedicated to just one user.

Our Kubernetes infrastructure “breathes.” This means it can grow or shrink depending on the computing power we need at any given time. This also reduces the total cost of ownership (TCO) of Audi’s infrastructure: A variety of modern applications consume only the computing power they actually need.

You can think of it like an apartment building for computing power, where each application “lives” in its own apartment. They often share common services. To stick with the analogy, the garden, heating, electricity, and security are centrally managed for cost efficiency. At the same time, each application can individually use the computing power it requires.

You also serve as a thought leader. What does that entail?

Sebastian: As a thought leader in tech and IT, I influence global developments and bring this technological and strategic foresight to Audi. A key aspect of this work is participating in the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) CTO Summit, where I actively contribute to the Technical Oversight Committees (TOCs). This role has not only given me deep insights into current cloud technology developments, but also expanded my network within the open-source community. Today, we count over 240,000 individual contributors to our projects per year – that is, people who contribute, provide input, or participate.

You often speak about the importance of technology and how it’s used at Audi. What do you think makes Audi particularly attractive to young talents in the tech field?

Sebastian: One of Audi’s greatest strengths is definitely the opportunity to work with new and innovative technologies. Young talents who are passionate about technical challenges can work on “bleeding-edge” technologies. We use tools that are not yet as common in the wider industry.

You’re also a mentor and trainer at Audi. What does that mean to you?

Sebastian: As a mentor and trainer, it’s incredibly important to me to foster young talents and help them build their careers at Audi. Over the years, I’ve mentored many interns, working students, and thesis students. During this time, I support them not just professionally but also personally, ensuring they integrate well into our team and gain valuable experiences.

Mentoring goes far beyond the traditional workday. For example, I invite my alumni over for a barbecue and networking session at my place.

You clearly feel very comfortable at Audi. What are your main reasons for staying?

Sebastian: It’s the combination of technological challenges and the opportunity to make a real impact. Audi is a company that has traditionally been focused on automobiles, but there has been tremendous progress in IT and technology in recent years. There are incredibly exciting projects in Audi IT where we have the chance to actively shape change. Audi offers an innovative environment where you can work on highly complex, future-oriented technologies.

In recent years, I’ve not only gained valuable experience but have also invested a great deal of energy and commitment into projects and people. It’s important to me not to be seen as a “lame duck”, someone who initiates something and then leaves the company before the results are truly visible. It’s all about practicing what you preach.