Technical lead

🚀 Tech Lead – Cloud & Platform Engineering

📍 Mechelen, Belgium (Hybrid)

📅 Long-term freelance/contract-based opportunity (until end of 2026)


We’re looking for a hands-on Tech Lead to join a large-scale, complex environment where technology plays a critical role in delivering high-impact services.

This is not a people management role - you’ll act as the technical backbone of the team, working closely with architects and engineering teams to ensure high-quality, scalable, and future-proof solutions.


💡 Your Role

As a Tech Lead, you will bridge the gap between architecture and implementation, ensuring that technical decisions are effectively translated into real-world solutions across multiple teams and vendors.

You’ll operate in a multi-team, multi-vendor environment, where your ability to influence, guide, and align will be key.


🔧 Key Responsibilities

🏗️ Technical Leadership & Architecture

* Translate architectural vision into clear technical standards and guidelines
* Ensure consistent and correct implementation across teams
* Act as a trusted partner to Solution Architects


⚙️ Engineering Excellence

* Drive best practices around:
* scalability
* security
* maintainability
* observability
* Perform high-level code and architecture reviews


🔗 Multi-Team & Vendor Collaboration

* Guide and challenge external vendor teams
* Ensure alignment across a complex ecosystem of teams


☁️ Cloud & Platform Enablement

* Support teams in adopting cloud platforms (AWS / GCP)
* Work with Kubernetes / OpenShift environments
* Bridge the gap between strategy and hands-on implementation


🚀 Modernisation & Innovation

* Drive technical improvements and modernization initiatives
* Reduce technical debt
* Promote cloud-native and AI-driven solutions


💬 Stakeholder Communication

* Collaborate with Product Owners, Analysts, and senior stakeholders
* Navigate a complex and sometimes political environment
* Communicate clearly and influence decisions without formal authority


✅ What We’re Looking For

Must-have:

* Strong experience with AWS and/or GCP
* Solid experience with Kubernetes or OpenShift
* Proven background in software architecture & system design
* Experience with:
* CI/CD pipelines
* Infrastructure as Code
* API-led and event-driven architectures
* Good understanding of infrastructure (networking, security, compute, storage)
* Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
* Ability to influence and guide teams without direct authority
* Hands-on mindset (not purely advisory)


Nice to have:

* Experience in large enterprise environments
* Exposure to AI-driven solutions or innovation initiatives
* Experience working with external vendors / consulting firms
* Background in telecom or network architecture
* Dutch language skills


👤 Ideal Profile

You are a senior engineer or technical lead who:

* enjoys working in complex, large-scale environments
* combines deep technical expertise with strong communication skills
* thrives in roles where you influence rather than manage
* is comfortable working across multiple teams and stakeholders


📍 Practical Info

* Location: Mechelen (hybrid – 2–3 days onsite/week)
* Start: ASAP
* Duration: Long-term (until end of 2026, extension likely)
* Language: English required (Dutch is a plus)