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Specialist Observability Platform
Location: Utrecht, Netherlands
Start date: As soon as possible
End date: 30 September 2027
Contract: Freelance / Contract
Working language: Dutch and English
About the role
We are looking for a Specialist Observability Platform to take a leading technical role in the further development and professionalisation of a central observability platform within a large and complex IT environment.
You will act as a technical point of contact for development teams, platform engineers and external technology partners. You will provide technical direction, initiate improvements and help teams adopt observability standards and best practices.
The role combines hands-on technical expertise with architectural thinking, stakeholder management and continuous improvement. You will need to understand not only how observability technology works, but also how it can create value through increased reliability, efficiency, risk reduction and cost control.
Your responsibilities
Provide technical direction for the development and evolution of the central observability platform.
Define, implement and maintain observability standards, best practices and governance.
Develop scalable and standardised solutions that enable self-service and efficient onboarding of development teams.
Work closely with developers, platform engineers, DevOps teams, Product Owners and other stakeholders.
Design and improve solutions around data access control, tagging, sampling, governance and observability cost management.
Identify opportunities for improvement and proactively initiate and drive technical and organisational initiatives.
Evaluate new observability capabilities together with technology partners and translate them into practical solutions.
Develop advanced observability solutions such as end-to-end chain monitoring and dashboards that translate technical data into meaningful insights for Product Owners and business stakeholders.
Support teams in adopting and effectively using the observability platform through communication, coaching and knowledge sharing.
Contribute to a culture of continuous learning and sharing of technical knowledge and best practices within the observability team.
Help further professionalise observability across a large and diverse IT landscape.
The environment
You will work within a highly skilled and motivated Observability team consisting of Observability Engineers, a Product Owner and an Architect.
The central observability platform is based on Datadog and is already used by more than 130 teams, with further growth expected. The environment includes a broad range of technologies and platforms, including:
* Kubernetes / AKS
* Azure
* AWS
* Mendix / Low Code
* Private hosting
* Cloud-native applications and platforms
The platform goes beyond traditional collection of logs, metrics and traces. The organisation is actively developing areas such as **governance, Data Access Control, tagging enforcement, sampling, maturity models, cost control and controlled adoption of new observability features**.
An important part of the role will be connecting technical observability with business and product needs, ensuring that technical monitoring provides meaningful insights into service impact, reliability and operational performance.
Requirements
Proven experience designing, implementing and improving observability solutions in complex and large-scale IT environments.
Strong understanding of observability concepts, architectures and best practices.
Experience with observability tooling such as Datadog, Dynatrace, New Relic, Prometheus, Loki, Grafana or ELK.
Datadog experience is a strong advantage.
Experience with automation and CI/CD tooling such as Azure Pipelines, Terraform, Helm and Ansible.
Experience with cloud and container platforms such as Kubernetes/AKS, AWS and Azure.
Experience working across multiple cloud platforms.
Experience with private hosting is an advantage.
Ability to translate complex technical challenges into practical, scalable implementations.
Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Comfortable discussing architecture and implementation with developers and engineers while also discussing business value, risks and priorities with Product Owners and senior stakeholders.
Proactive and entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to identify opportunities and drive improvements independently.
Strong written and verbal communication skills in both Dutch and English.
What we are looking for
What we are looking for
We are looking for someone who combines strong observability expertise with an architectural and organisational mindset. You should be comfortable operating at both strategic and technical levels and able to influence teams without relying solely on formal authority.You take ownership, challenge existing ways of working and turn improvement opportunities into concrete results. You are able to operate in a complex technology landscape and understand how observability can contribute to reliability, scalability, security and cost efficiency.
Practical information
Location: UtrechtStart: As soon as possible
End date: 30 September 2027
Selection: Interviews will take place as soon as possible
Application deadline: 17 September at 15:00
Questions candidates ask before applying
This depends on the role and the client, but on average our process takes 2–4 weeks from first contact to offer. We keep you informed at every step.
We specialize in roles across the renewable energy sector, including positions in solar, wind (onshore & offshore), green hydrogen, energy storage, grid infrastructure, and sustainability. We recruit for technical, commercial, and project management roles at all levels.
There are multiple ways to apply for a position with us. If you wish to apply directly to a specific job, please visit the job listing and use the "Apply" button to submit your application. Alternatively, if you are interested in an open application or exploring potential opportunities, you can fill out our online form.
We are open to discussing various commercial arrangements depending on the volume and nature of the collaboration. Contact us for a tailored proposal.
Our fees are charged to the hiring company and are based on a percentage of the candidate's annual salary. We discuss this transparently during the intake. There are no costs for candidates.
Yes! You can submit an open application via our website. We'll keep your profile on file and reach out as soon as a suitable opportunity arises.
We conduct thorough interviews to assess both technical competencies and cultural fit. We have an extensive network in the renewable energy sector, which allows us to find both active and passive candidates.
Our process consists of several steps: (1) Intake with the client to understand the role, team, and culture, (2) Active sourcing and screening of candidates, (3) Presentation of a shortlist, (4) Interview coordination, (5) Offer and onboarding support.
We are a passionate, driven team that genuinely believes in the energy transition. We combine a personal approach with deep sector knowledge, and we're committed to making a real impact — for candidates, clients, and the planet.
We cover the full spectrum of renewables: solar PV, onshore and offshore wind, green hydrogen, energy storage, EV infrastructure, and broader sustainability roles. We work with developers, EPCs, OEMs, and utilities.
We ARE Renewables is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands — one of Europe's key hubs for the energy transition. We operate across Europe and connect renewable energy talent with leading organizations in the sector.
Yes, we recruit both permanent employees and freelance/interim professionals, depending on your project needs.
Depending on the role, we typically present the first shortlist within 1–2 weeks. For specialized or hard-to-fill positions, we set realistic timelines upfront.
We live and breathe renewable energy. Our consultants have a deep understanding of the sector — from the technical landscape to the energy transition trends shaping the industry. We don't just match CVs, we match ambitions.
You can reach out via our contact form or call us directly. We'll schedule an intake to understand your needs and immediately start the search for the right candidates.
Absolutely. We guide you through the entire process, from CV advice to interview tips and salary negotiation support.
Yes, our recruitment services are completely free for candidates. We are paid by the hiring companies, so there are no costs for you at any stage of the process.