How is modern software really built? Our Group Director of Product, Tobias Unger, shares insights into teamwork, AI-driven innovation, and why now is the perfect time to start a career in product engineering.
From strategy consultant to product leader
Anyone who talks to him quickly realizes: this is where strategic thinking meets a strong passion for product development. Tobias Unger is 37 years old and has been working as Group Director of Product at Serviceware for five years, actively shaping the future of modern software solutions.
When he's not working on product strategies or new AI-driven solutions, he's lacing up his running shoes. As a passionate runner, he brings one thing above all: endurance – and that’s exactly what you need in product engineering . After all, great products are not built overnight, but through continuous iteration, testing, and improvement.
His journey into product engineering began with a degree in Economics and International Information Systems. He then spent more than seven years in management consulting, working on strategic digital transformation projects. But at some point, he realized: "I didn't just want to support projects, I wanted to take on long-term responsibility for a product and a team," Tobias recalls.
Moving into product management was a natural next step. What particularly attracted him was the opportunity to make a real impact: "Product management has a huge impact on the future of a software company or manufacturer. The fact that the Serviceware management entrusted me with so much responsibility here motivated me right from the start."
Leading innovative software teams
Today, Tobias is responsible for the product development roadmaps of the Serviceware platform and leads a team of around 30 experts, including product leads, product owners, UX/UI designers, and technical writers.
Together, they develop innovative software solutions and continuously refine them. A key focus is on cross-functional initiatives, such as the introduction of a new AI-native core module for the Serviceware platform.
In parallel, he works closely with the Group Director of Development and the team to further evolve product development, with a strong focus on AI-driven approaches and emerging technologies such as agentic coding.
What makes a strong product development team? For Tobias, three factors are key:
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Customer focus
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precision
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speed
"In the end, the customer decides our success, which is why customer focus is our top priority. At the same time, precision in product management is crucial because we have to set the right course so that our product really solves the relevant problems. Speed is also becoming increasingly important, especially because AI-supported development is accelerating competition."
How modern product engineering works
The team operates within a scaled agile organization based on Scrum. Shared tools and well-defined processes ensure efficient collaboration and enable teams to leverage shared knowledge and best practices.
What Tobias particularly values about his role is the diversity of topics. No two days are the same: sometimes it’s about finding flexible solutions to meet team needs, other times it involves addressing strategic questions around evolving market demands or the impact of generative AI on software development. This combination of day-to-day challenges and forward-looking topics is exactly what makes his role so engaging.
If you want to be successful in this environment, you need above all
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strong communication skills with customers, the team and colleagues from all internal departments
- the ability to grasp new developments quickly and evaluate them in a structured manner
- and the skills to lead and develop teams
AI as a game changer in software development
Artificial intelligence is no longer a topic for the future. It is a central component of everyday work.
"AI plays an absolutely central role both for our products and for the way we work," explains the Group Director of Product.
A concrete example highlights the scale of this impact: a developer from the Serviceware engineering team implemented a feature in just 2.5 days using coding agents — something that would previously have taken around six weeks.
This shift is also redefining the requirements for teams. For Tobias, the conclusion is clear: "AI agents basically make everyone a manager. This makes it all the more important to maintain an overview, ensure quality and take responsibility."
A look at a key AI project
One major milestone for Tobias and his team was the development and launch of a new AI-native core module for the Serviceware platform.
The goal: to create a service management solution that fully leverages the potential of generative AI in everyday work.
The way to go there:
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Building a strong, interdisciplinary team
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Analysis of existing solutions from the customer's perspective
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Complete new development based on state-of-the-art technologies
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Early involvement of customers in beta and productive operation
The result is a solution that is consistently aligned with real customer needs and continuously evolves based on ongoing customer feedback.
Software development: between challenge and opportunity
The rapid pace of AI innovation brings not only opportunities, but also significant challenges.
"Our biggest task is to maintain our product leadership in AI while continuously evolving the way we work," says Tobias.
The speed at which technology is advancing requires constant adaptation — both at the product level and within teams.
The future of product engineering
For Tobias, one thing is certain: "Software development is facing a fundamental transformation. AI is enabling completely rethought products that will change the way our customers work in the long term."
At the same time, development is accelerating massively: "The path from idea to product will be shortened from months to just a few days," concludes Tobias.
A career in product engineering at Serviceware
Now is the ideal time to get into software and product development.
"We are currently experiencing a technological revolution that many people only experience once in their professional lives. Those who actively take advantage of this dynamic have enormous opportunities," says Tobias.
What makes Serviceware special:
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real responsibility for products with a global impact
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high visibility of performance right up to top management
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an environment in which you can actively shape things
Conclusion
Today, product engineering is much more than traditional software development. It is the interplay of strategy, technology, teamwork, and increasingly, artificial intelligence.
For anyone looking to work in a dynamic environment and actively shape the future of our products, this is exactly the right place to be.
