I'm Markus Troßbach. I work on hard tech problems where the answers aren't written yet. Currently I'm Domain Engineering Lead at Schwarz Digits.

Background

I studied Medical Informatics at Heilbronn University and Heidelberg University, a computer science degree with a concrete application domain. It turned out to be more formative than I expected: through the program I met the head of NESO Security Labs, an alumnus of the same degree, which later opened the door to mobile security research.

During my studies, cryptography and IT security moved from interest to focus. At the same time, I was fascinated by my first smartphone, and mobile pulled me in both technically and personally. Those two threads eventually came together at NESO, where I worked on iOS runtime analysis and vulnerability research.

When I heard through a contact that Kaufland was just starting with mobile, I sent an unsolicited application and ended up as their first dedicated mobile engineer. The years since have been less about a career plan and more about following what was interesting: from mobile to cloud-native backends, to architecture, to group-wide platform work and cryptographic system design. Each step was something I couldn't do yet when I started.

Looking back, the constant has been curiosity, and an unwillingness to stop at the surface. I've gone into new, hard topics not because I already knew them, but because I trusted I could work my way in, helped by fast pattern recognition and a drive to really understand what I work on.

Today

I'm currently Domain Engineering Lead at Schwarz Digits. Two things take most of my attention right now: the Digital Foundation, a group-wide engineering platform I initially developed and now drive together with the teams I lead; and secure communication architecture, where I work across cryptography, distributed systems, and SDK development.

Leadership wasn't the goal. I took it on because I care about the decisions that shape the technical direction, and those decisions happen at a level where technical competence alone isn't enough to be heard. What surprised me most about leading people is how differently they think, perceive, and work. I try to lead with that in mind.

The core of my contribution stays technical. Often building the hardest parts myself. I'm still an engineer at heart, I need to stay close to the work to tell where it's actually going, and hard problems in cryptography and architecture are what I enjoy most.

What drives me

Hard problems with small high-performance teams. Facts over dogma. Substance over process. Architecture and craft over politics.

I care less about titles and hierarchies than about problems that haven't been solved yet, and about working with people who take ownership and care about getting things right. Mistakes are part of that. The ones that teach you something are worth making.

Outside of tech

I live near Heilbronn with Nicole. We're both from the region, and it's where we keep coming back to. I cycle regularly, mostly on gravel and tour routes through the countryside around us. At home I tinker with home automation, which has grown over time from lights and heating to window sensors, energy management, and the garden fountain.