At ipoque, we believe that supporting young talent forms the very foundation of innovation. When we invest in passionate individuals, they can achieve remarkable things. Harald Bunke, a software developer in our Network Analytics department, perfectly embodies this philosophy. His career path shows what happens when personal ambition meets a highly supportive work environment.
Starting his journey at ipoque
Harald first joined ipoque as an intern in 2021. Right from the start, he brought fresh ideas and a strong desire to learn the intricacies of network analytics. His interest in the field was sparked during his university studies in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. While searching for an internship opportunity, he discovered a working -student position focused on network traffic analysis and decided to reach out. What began as a mandatory internship quickly developed into a long-term professional journey.
Supported by experienced colleagues, Harald quickly became part of real customer projects. This hands-on approach and practical experience allowed him to apply his academic knowledge while continuously expanding his technical and industry-related expertise.
Harald joined a newly started project during his first months, becoming part of a team that was building processes and solutions from the ground up. This gave him the chance to contribute early while gaining hands-on experience with new tools and technologies. Like many young engineers entering a professional environment, he faced a steep learning curve, adapting to Linux as a development platform and navigating the many abbreviations of the 5G ecosystem.
He quickly became an integral part of the team, proving that young talents can make an immediate impact when given the right opportunities.
Stepping up to a full-time software developer
Because of his hard work and natural talent, offering Harald a permanent position was an easy decision. Over the years, his journey evolved naturally—from intern to Bachelor’s thesis, then working student, followed by his Master’s thesis, and finally joining the company as a permanent employee.
As a full-time software developer, Harald began taking on increasingly complex challenges. Our team supported him with the resources, training, and encouragement needed to continue his professional growth. For Harald, one of the key reasons for staying at ipoque was the diversity and the depth of the field itself.
"I realized how broad the field really is and how many different areas there are to explore. Even after all this time, I’m still genuinely interested in it."
– Harald Bunke –
That sustained curiosity, combined with a highly collaborative environment, ultimately led Harald to building his long-term career at ipoque.
Support from colleagues was a constant throughout his development. Rather than relying on a single mentor, Harald benefited from a culture of open knowledge sharing across the team.
As his role evolved, so did his responsibilities. He gradually moved from executing increasingly complex tasks to proactively identifying and solving issues independently. Over time, he also became more involved in organizational topics and team coordination, taking on responsibilities that often extend beyond formal ticket handling and project plans.
Taking the global stage
Recently, Harald reached a major milestone in his professional career. He took the stage as a speaker at the DPDK Summit 2026 in Sweden.
The opportunity emerged from his team's growing focus on DPDK technology. Since DPDK plays an important role in the R&S Probe Observer, Harald was given the opportunity to attend the summit and deepen his expertise. What started as a learning opportunity quickly evolved into a chance to share insights with the wider community through a conference presentation.
Preparing for such a high-profile event was a strong team effort. Harald worked closely with colleagues, who reviewed his slides and provided detailed feedback. Several dry runs with the team helped him fine-tune both the technical depth of his talk and his presentation style.
In his talk, Harald shared practical insights into how the network analytics team uses DPDK and the deployment challenges they encountered along the way. While he admits he was nervous the days before, the experience itself was highly rewarding. He highlighted the welcoming atmosphere and the opportunity to exchange ideas with an active community of experts.
Seeing him present his expertise in network analytics to a global audience is a strong milestone, reflecting both his deep technical knowledge and his willingness to step outside his comfort zone.
Harald's journey reflects our commitment to developing talent and enabling long-term growth. It shows how curiosity, perseverance, and a supportive team environment can shape a career path—from an internship to presenting on the stage of an international conference.
Congratulations, Harald, on everything you have achieved so far. We are proud to have you on the team, and we look forward to seeing how your journey continues to evolve.
