Nilesh Kulkarni

CFU24 – Cyber Fusion Unit · Germany · Self-employed

Independent cybersecurity and digital-resilience consulting for German mid-sized companies, focused on governance, regulatory readiness and secure engineering processes.

• Cybersecurity readiness and gap assessments for management and technical teams.
• Preparation for NIS2, CRA and ISO/IEC 27001-oriented security structures.
• Advisory on ISO/SAE 21434, security risk management and secure development processes.
• Translation of complex security requirements into prioritized, economically sound measures.
• Coordination of specialized delivery partners when deeper implementation support is required.

ZF Group · Mayen-Koblenz · Hybrid

Project and process ownership for DevOps platforms, software-process harmonization and software-defined vehicle initiatives.

• Designed and technically steered an interface between the company-internal and customer-side DevOps platforms.
• Ensured continuous development, monitoring and operation of the platform interface.
• Analyzed project requirements for processes, methods and tools including software security and agile trends.
• Owned processes for the Azure DevOps platform as Area Owner.
• Developed and implemented processes, methods and tools for Problem Resolution Management (SUP.9), Change Management (SUP.10) and Cybersecurity Engineering (SEC.1–4 / ISO/SAE 21434).

ZF Group · Koblenz · Hybrid

Global responsibility for software configuration and software asset management as well as migration of core development processes to Azure DevOps.

• Successfully delivered the DevOps infrastructure for rolling out software development from PTC Integrity to Azure DevOps.
• Standardized cloud-based software development processes according to ASPICE and aligned them with the internal process model.
• Built repository structures, baselines, branch/merge strategies and BuildViews for software development and integration.
• Planned configuration audits, reported status, escalated deviations and trained international teams.
• Managed software assets, encryption software, export control and keys for secure debugging and diagnostics.

ZF Group · Koblenz · On-site

Leadership and coordination of systems-engineering work packages for international ADAS development programs.

• Owned planning, steering, decision-making and on-time delivery of systems-engineering projects.
• Planned and controlled system activities in global projects including functional safety and cybersecurity.
• Defined and applied methods, metrics and KPIs for multi-project monitoring.
• Moderated technical meetings and represented systems engineering toward the overall project and customers.

• Project Configuration & Change Manager (May–Nov 2018) — Configuration items, CM plan, milestones, changes and continuous process improvement in the core project with PTC Integrity.
• System Project Office, ADAS Systems Engineering (Feb–Nov 2018) — Global PMO support, budget and resource reporting, standards, templates, communication and project audits.
• KaFAS4 Platform Project Manager (Jun 2017–Feb 2018) — Project management for BMW KaFAS4, steering of the system architecture and requirements team, and customer/stakeholder communication.
• KaFAS4 Requirements Infrastructure Engineer (Oct 2016–Jun 2017) — Requirements infrastructure along the ASPICE V-model, DOORS integration, automated reporting, RM plan and tool qualification.

Johnson Controls Automotive · Burscheid, Germany

Requirements and technical risk steering for international automotive seating programs from RFQ/RFI through validation.

• Steered requirements, DVP&R and FEA planning, traceability and technical risk audits across project milestones.
• Supported the Recaro sports seat for the L538 program within a development window of about 18 months.
• Managed parallel programs for JLR, Ford and Toyota with durations of roughly 18–24 months.
• Received Merit Awards for Global Requirements Management and Core Requirements Management.

Johnson Controls Automotive · Pune, India

Requirements lifecycle from needs analysis and planning through traceability to evaluation for Ford, Toyota, Fiat and Kia programs.

• Prepared technical RFQ/RFI risk analyses and requirements management plans.
• Analyzed OEM specifications, assessed gaps and tracked risk-reduction actions.
• Used tools and data pools for traceability, history and approvals.

Built and scaled a multi-country consulting and talent business with activities in Germany, the UK, the EU, India and the USA.

• Achieved more than 375% revenue growth in Germany within four years.
• Enabled year-over-year business growth of more than 85%.
• Brought the UK unit to profitability and reduced liabilities by about 96%.

Built the German company from market entry and incorporation into a strategic operating entity.

• Achieved more than 580% revenue growth within two years.
• Owned P&L, compliance, financial governance, sales, suppliers and delivery end to end.
• Reached early profitability with a lean, cash-efficient operating model.

Designed a sustainable food-tech subscription platform with local partners; product development is currently paused, investor search remains open.

• Steered platform design, investor relations and value positioning.
• Delegated operational tasks to leads for technology, logistics and compliance.

Guidance for entrepreneurs and managing directors on occupational pensions, executive benefits, protection and long-term wealth planning.

• Made complex pension topics understandable from an entrepreneurial and business perspective.
• Included individual goals of the company, leadership and family in the assessment.