// placeholder
kubectl get engineer karsten -o yaml
apiVersion: cloud.karsten/v1
kind: Engineer
metadata:
name: karsten
namespace: freelance-prod
labels:
location: karlsruhe.de
type: Freiberufler
available: true
spec:
role: Freelance DevOps & Platform Engineer
experience: 10+ years
focus:
- Kubernetes & Platform Engineering
- Observability & SIEM
- GitOps & Infrastructure as Code
- Cloud & Security
clouds: [AWS, Azure, GCP]
status:
phase: Running
message: potentially open to new engagements
kind: Engineer
metadata:
name: karsten
namespace: freelance-prod
labels:
location: karlsruhe.de
type: Freiberufler
available: true
spec:
role: Freelance DevOps & Platform Engineer
experience: 10+ years
focus:
- Kubernetes & Platform Engineering
- Observability & SIEM
- GitOps & Infrastructure as Code
- Cloud & Security
clouds: [AWS, Azure, GCP]
status:
phase: Running
message: potentially open to new engagements
ConfigMap
about/karsten
ns/about
v1
name
Karsten
location
Karlsruhe, Germany
since
Cloud & infra since 2015 · Freelance since 2022
legal
Freiberufler (§18 EStG)
capacity
120–160 billable hours/month
bio
Self-taught infrastructure engineer. Transitioned to cloud in 2015 across AWS, Azure and GCP. Since 2022 freelancing with a focus on platform engineering, Kubernetes, observability and GitOps. Currently running a long-term public sector SOC/SIEM platform project. I work best in technically challenging environments, value pragmatism over architecture astronautics, and genuinely enjoy mentoring engineers earlier in their career.
philosophy
Start small. Automate everything. Leave it better than you found it.
Pods
skills/tech-stack
ns/skills
v1
// Container & Orchestration
Kubernetes
expert
k3s / ECK
expert
Strimzi / Kafka
advanced
// Observability
Prometheus / Thanos
expert
Grafana
expert
Elasticsearch / Kibana
expert
Vector
advanced
// GitOps & Automation
ArgoCD
expert
Helm / Kustomize
expert
Terraform
advanced
Ansible
advanced
GitLab CI
advanced
// Security & Secrets
HashiCorp Vault
expert
cert-manager / PKI
expert
Keycloak / OIDC
advanced
// Cloud Platforms
AWS
advanced
Azure
advanced
GCP
advanced
CustomResourceDefinition
softskills.karsten.cloud
ns/cluster
v1
TechnicalCommunication.soft.karsten.cloud
scope:Cluster
status:Established
Translating complex infrastructure topics into clear language for developers, management, and stakeholders.
AutonomousDelivery.soft.karsten.cloud
scope:Cluster
status:Established
Self-directed and structured delivery across distributed teams. Low overhead, high throughput.
Collaboration.soft.karsten.cloud
scope:Cluster
status:Established
Bridging dev, sec, ops, and product teams. Fluent across organisational boundaries.
ContinuousLearning.soft.karsten.cloud
scope:Cluster
status:Established
Rapidly onboarding new tools, ecosystems, and domains. High spec.learningVelocity.
DocumentationDriven.soft.karsten.cloud
scope:Namespaced
status:Established
Undocumented systems don't exist. Runbooks, ADRs, and inline docs as first-class deliverables.
PragmaticProblemSolving.soft.karsten.cloud
scope:Cluster
status:Established
Cutting through complexity to working solutions. Bias for action over analysis paralysis.
Deployments
projects/active
ns/projects
v1
| name | status | stack | age |
|---|---|---|---|
|
soc-siem-platform
Full stack build for a public sector SOC/SIEM enablement platform — senior engineer for a high volume data ingestion pipeline build with Vector, Kafka, and Elasticsearch.
|
building |
contract
k3s
ECK
Elasticsearch
Strimzi
Kafka
Vector
ArgoCD
Thanos
Grafana
|
2y+ |
|
Calculator for Kafka topic retention settings based on PVC size, throughput, and replication factor. No backend, runs in the browser.
|
Running |
private
fun
SPA
HTML/CSS/JS
|
new |
|
Browser-only meeting cost timer SPA. No backend, no tracking. Enter headcount and seniority — watch money evaporate in real time.
|
running |
private
fun
SPA
HTML/CSS/JS
|
now |
|
Time tracker that tags entries with their real monetary value. Enter your hourly rate — see exactly what your time is worth.
|
Running |
private
fun
SPA
HTML/CSS/JS
|
new |
|
karsten.cloud
This site. Static HTML/CSS/JS, zero dependencies, terminal-inspired shell with inline project navigation.
|
building |
private
HTML
CSS
Static
|
now |
ReplicaSets
experience/timeline
ns/experience
v1
2022 – present
Freelance IT Infrastructure, DevOps & Platform Engineer
Self-employed · Karlsruhe, Germany
Long-running public sector SOC/SIEM platform project as senior engineer.
High volume event pipeline build on k3s with vector, Kafka and Elasticsearch.
Airgapped Kubernetes platform migration, observability stack, GitOps workflows, security architecture and mentoring.
High volume event pipeline build on k3s with vector, Kafka and Elasticsearch.
Airgapped Kubernetes platform migration, observability stack, GitOps workflows, security architecture and mentoring.
KubernetesArgoCDElasticsearchVectorVaultPrometheusKafkaFreiberufler
pre-2022
Cloud & Infrastructure Consultant
Consultancy · Karlsruhe, Germany
Designed, deployed and operated cloud-native products and platforms for enterprise clients across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and on premises. Foundation for later specialisation in platform engineering and Kubernetes.
AWSAzureGCPIaCTerraformConsultant
2015
Cloud transition
Career pivot
Left Windows client administration, moved into cloud. Started on AWS, expanded to Azure and GCP. Self-taught throughout — no formal CS degree, a lot of production hands-on.
AWSself-taught
Service
contact/karsten
ns/contact
v1
location
Karlsruhe, Germany · remote-first
availability
Potentially open to new engagements
email
hallo@karsten.cloud
web
karsten.cloud