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Discover Tchibo TECH - an agile, high-performance culture where teams take full ownership and drive innovation
Rodica Picioruși is a seasoned technology leader with over 15 years of experience in engineering leadership.
She currently serves as Managing Director of Tchibo TECH Romania and
Head of Tchibo TECH International, where she plays a key role in driving
the digital transformation of Tchibo by helping build high-performing,
customer-centric technology teams.
In previous roles, she contributed to large-scale digital transformations, leading initiatives in architecture governance and engineering excellence.
The Hipo team asked her to offer a few insights about Tchibo TECH Romania - a new IT center in Romania.
Why did the company choose Romania, and specifically Bucharest, for this new technology hub?
Romania, and Bucharest in particular, offers a strong tech ecosystem with a rich pool of highly skilled IT professionals. Bucharest is a strategic technology location in Eastern Europe, providing excellent connectivity and access to top talent, making it ideal for expanding the technology capabilities of Tchibo.
What are the main goals of Tchibo TECH in Bucharest for the coming years?
The goal is to build empowered product teams that create inspiring digital products and services, contribute to engineering best practices, and generate real business impact.
The Bucharest tech center is a core pillar of Tchibo TECH’s two-location model, functioning seamlessly alongside the Hamburg team. We aim to build a strong tech organisation, that drives efficiency and digital transformation within Tchibo.
What are the core technologies or focus areas that your technology hub will prioritize?
Our main priority is to reduce reliance on external providers by bringing core capabilities in-house. Right now, we're focusing on building strong teams in three key areas: Software Engineering, Data & AI, and SAP. These are critical for supporting the long-term digital strategy of Tchibo, and we’ve already opened positions to grow our team in these areas.
How would you describe the organizational culture at Tchibo TECH, and what types of professionals fit best into your team?
At Tchibo TECH, we’ve built an agile, high-performance culture
where teams take full ownership and drive innovation. We work in autonomous, cross-functional teams and use AI-driven automation to boost efficiency.
Our environment is open, transparent, and highly collaborative, with a strong focus on experimentation and continuous learning.
What’s especially important is that we’re still at the beginning of our journey. This means every new joiner has a real opportunity to help shape our culture.
The professionals who thrive here are those who value ownership, are passionate about innovation, and enjoy working in fast-paced, inclusive teams. We look for people who are curious, adaptable, and eager to grow, both technically and in their careers.
What types of projects does your technology hub in Bucharest currently develop or plan to develop in the near future?
Right now, we're building teams in Bucharest that focus on key digital areas for Tchibo.
As we continue hiring—Fullstack Engineers, Data Analysts, Data Scientists, and DevOps—we're working on projects like enhancing our eCommerce platform, developing advanced performance marketing analytics, and building telemetry systems for our coffee services.
These are high-impact, business-critical projects that combine data, technology, and user experience.
How will the teams in Romania contribute to your company’s global innovation initiatives?
Our teams in Romania are fully integrated into the global product development efforts of Tchibo. They operate as end-to-end product teams, directly contributing to the company’s digital transformation and innovation strategy. We believe that real innovation happens within product teams by giving them clear focus, ownership, and the space to experiment and deliver impact.
What career development opportunities does your company offer to IT&C professionals who join your technology hub?
We offer continuous learning opportunities, including access to training programs and collaboration with highly skilled colleagues across locations. The two locations setup increases exposure and broadens professional experience. While we operate in a high-performance and demanding environment, this accelerates personal and technical development significantly.
To what extent are employees encouraged to experiment and propose innovative technological solutions?
At Tchibo TECH, building empowered teams is more than
just a buzzword. We’re committed to creating an environment where continuous learning, experimentation, and discovery are part of everyday work.Our teams are encouraged to propose and test innovative solutions, guided by a strong data-driven mindset.
For us, experimentation isn’t optional, it’s essential to how true product teams operate and grow.
How does your technology hub integrate the latest technological trends such as AI, Machine Learning, Cloud computing, and Cybersecurity?
At Tchibo TECH, technologies like AI, Machine Learning, Cloud computing, and Cybersecurity are not just trends, they're foundational. Tchibo is already recognized as a leading AI-driven retailer, and we continue to strengthen that position
by using AI and analytics to drive automation and efficiency across the business.
What advice would you give to IT professionals who want to build a successful career at your technology hub?
If you want to build a successful career at Tchibo TECH, come ready to take ownership, stay curious, and continuously grow. We’re at the beginning of our journey, so every new team member has the chance to shape not just the technology, but also the culture.
You’ll thrive here if you’re driven by impact, open to experimenting, and comfortable working in a high-performance, fast-moving environment. Surround yourself with skilled peers, embrace modern engineering practices, enjoy our top-class coffee and be ready to learn because that’s how we grow together.
