Thorsten Merten
About Thorsten Merten
Thorsten Merten is a Software Engineering Manager at Canonical, where he has worked since 2022. He holds a Master of Science in Computer Science and has extensive experience in research and startup environments, including co-founding sustainabill GmbH.
Work at Canonical
Thorsten Merten serves as a Software Engineering Manager at Canonical, a position he has held since 2022. He is based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. In this role, he is part of the MAAS (Metal as a Service) team, where he focuses on automating tasks in data centers, including power cycles, provisioning, and deployment. His work involves utilizing various technologies such as Python, Javascript, APIs, networking, BMCs, PXE, redfish, IPMI, UEFI, and Linux tools.
Education and Expertise
Thorsten Merten has a robust educational background in computer science and related fields. He earned a Master of Science in Computer Science from York University in 2008. Prior to that, he completed a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences from 2002 to 2006. He further advanced his studies by obtaining a Master's degree in Software Engineering and Computer Graphics from the same institution between 2006 and 2008. He also holds a Dr. rer. nat. in Mathematics and Computer Science from Heidelberg University, which he completed from 2012 to 2017.
Background
Thorsten Merten has a diverse professional background that spans research, startups, and corporate environments. He co-founded sustainabill GmbH, where he served as Co-Founder and CTO from 2017 to 2022. His earlier roles include positions as a Senior Researcher at both Fraunhofer IAIS and Bonn University, as well as freelance software development at serie a logistics solutions AG. His experience in research and startups contributes to his structured and systematic approach to problem-solving.
Previous Work Experience
Before his current role at Canonical, Thorsten Merten held several positions that enriched his expertise in software engineering and research. He worked as a Senior Researcher at Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences from 2009 to 2016. He also had a brief tenure as a Senior Researcher at Fraunhofer IAIS in 2016 and as a Freelance Software Developer at serie a logistics solutions AG from 2008 to 2009. His early career included roles as a Graduate Assistant and Researcher at Fraunhofer IAIS.
Collaboration and Work Style
Thorsten Merten values collaboration with intrinsically motivated and kind individuals. His scientific background informs his structured and systematic approach to challenges, enabling him to effectively tackle complex problems in his work. This collaborative mindset is evident in his leadership role at Canonical, where teamwork is essential for success in software engineering projects.