Our Story

The team behind secure software solutions

Founded

January 2024

Locations

Saarbrücken & Bochum

Mission

High-quality cybersecurity software

Who We Are

secforge GmbH is a software development lab with offices in Saarbrücken and Bochum, Germany. Our team is made up of former developers from Rohde & Schwarz Cybersecurity, a leading European cybersecurity software development company. We are passionate about applying our collective expertise and creativity to new projects.

As seasoned software developers, our team has experience in creating and maintaining a wide range of security-oriented products. These include desktop applications, robust and scalable management systems, client-server applications, and dynamic networking solutions used by enterprises and public authorities in Germany and across Europe.

Our Journey

Jan 2024

secforge Founded

Eight experienced developers from Rohde & Schwarz Cybersecurity join forces to create secforge GmbH, starting as a fully remote team.

Aug 2024

Saarbrücken Office

Opened our first physical office at the Starterzentrum on Campus A1.1 in Saarbrücken.

2025

Network Memberships

Joined de:hub Digital Hub Initiative and East Side Fab innovation network.

Our Values

We are passionate about cybersecurity, data protection, and customer-centricity. We prioritize maintainability, sustainability, and software quality. Our holistic approach to software development covers the entire spectrum – from requirements engineering and technical product ownership to comprehensive software design, architecture, implementation, DevOps, testing, quality assurance, customer support, and security analysis.

We wholeheartedly embrace continuous personal growth and development as an integral part of our professional journey. We are always open to adopting innovative technologies and tools. We make sure we use the most effective solutions to meet customer requirements with optimal development and operational efficiency.

Our Team

8 Developers

70+ Years Combined Experience

10+ Years Working Together

Meet the people behind secforge:

Dr.-Ing. Mikhail Kovalev

Director / Development Engineer

Python C++ Java VirtualBox/VMware/Hyper-V Linux VMs DevOps

With over 10 years in software engineering and leading development teams, I specialize in creating secure software systems. I'm skilled in building desktop applications for Windows using Python/C++ and crafting server applications in Java. I have hands-on experience with VirtualBox, VMware, and Hyper-V APIs, and in working with hardened Linux VMs.

I thrive on addressing challenges, prototyping new ideas, and working with legacy code. My experience in software development spans from requirements engineering and technical product ownership to comprehensive software design, architecture, implementation, testing, and quality assurance. I'm also proficient in DevOps tasks, customer support, CVE analysis, and on-site investigations. With academic background in formal software verification, I place significant emphasis on software correctness and quality. I value open communication, fair and actionable feedback, and collaborative teamwork. I'm driven to deliver and enrich value for both products and customers.

Steffen Heil

Director / Development Engineer

Java Network Protocols Concurrency Functional Programming

"Any given problem can be solved with the tools at hand."

I begin with a comprehensive analysis of the problem and offer pragmatic, robust, and secure solutions. Working in an agile manner, I continuously refine results until they meet all customer requirements. I ensure a balance between simplicity and maintainability, scalable architecture, correctness, and efficiency.

With 25 years of experience in commercial software development, I have had the pleasure of successfully tackling diverse challenges in various domains, including:

Content management systems and management tools for public administration and authorities
Custom software solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises
Cybersecurity product development for the German classified market and international clients at a leading global technology company

I am passionate about protocol design, product interfaces, security, scalable deployments, and efficient implementations. My primary technical strengths lie in Java, network protocols, and concurrency. Additionally, I have proficiency in functional programming, assembler, hardware design, prototyping, and administration.

Hasan-Ali Dinç

Senior Development Engineer

Java IPv6 C# .NET Windows Services COM Objects

After approximately 12 years in cyber security, focusing on Java development, testing and build systems, I have continuously expanded my expertise, now including proficiency in areas such as IPv6. Additionally, I worked as a research assistant in the field of X-ray technology, contributing to the development and enhancement of CT scanners. During this time, I had the opportunity to write Windows MFC applications. My skill set also includes development of Windows services using COM objects and UI development with C# and the .NET Framework.

I find great enjoyment in participating in new innovative projects and remain open and adaptable to emerging technologies. I prioritize offering solutions that are secure, user-friendly, maintainable and easily extensible.

Gennadij Puschkaschow

Senior Development Engineer

Java Python C++ Android CI/CD Unit Testing

Pragmatic software developer with a master's degree and over 7 years of experience in creating and maintaining software applications. I have a profound interest in clean code and unit testing while being aware of the challenges and roadblocks of employing these principles in all stages of development as personally observed over the years. Jack of all trades regarding programming languages. While currently most effective in Java, Python and C++, there is no strong preference. If a language is fit to solve the given problem, I'm usually fine working with it.

Over the years I have been involved in a variety of projects in all stages from design, implementation, documentation, and testing. These include full blown native Android applications including the backend, legacy applications, small to mid-size utility libraries as well as tooling scripts and CI/CD integrations. So, while it is fair to say that I've seen a lot, I'm always open for more experiences.

Philipp Weber

Senior Development Engineer

C++ C# .NET Windows Kernel UEFI Smart Cards Cryptography

My passion for building software began long before my university studies and continues to drive my deep interest in software development.

While I accumulated over 11 years of C++ experience in my day to day work, I have also gained extensive knowledge in C# and .NET, using every iteration of the .NET Framework and .NET for numerous personal projects within the last 15 years.

For more than a decade, I have been designing and implementing security-critical software solutions certified by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) used to process VS-NfD classified data, which has provided me with a profound understanding of IT security and applied cryptography.

My primary expertise lies in system-level development for Windows, including kernel drivers, services and applications with a special focus on security.

I have specialized knowledge in the development of UEFI drivers and applications. Furthermore, I possess in-depth expertise in smart card standards.

Leon A. Becker

Development Engineer

Python Scala IT-Security Functional Programming GitLab Jenkins

My master's degree in IT-Security in conjunction with my proficiency in Python and Scala empowers me to create a wide range of software solutions. With a focus on functional programming and unit testing, I strive to construct correct, efficient and maintainable software.

Previous experience includes Python-based desktop applications, full-stack Scala-based websites, and execution of DevOps tasks centered around GitLab and Jenkins pipelines.

Yassir Kozha

Development Engineer

Java JavaScript Python Linux IPv6 DevOps CI/CD

Development Engineer with a master's degree in computer science, specializing in Java development. I also have strong skills in JavaScript, Python, Linux OS, and bash scripting. Additionally, I possess extensive experience in configuring and safeguarding networks within the IPv6 environment. With extensive experience in pipeline tools and DevOps tasks, I'm committed to continuous delivery and release management. I highly value clean code principles and thrive in collaborative team environments.

Viktor Kokott

Junior Development Engineer

Java JavaScript Python C++ Selenium Web Applications

Junior software developer with 4 years of hands-on experience specializing in development of Java-based web applications. Most of my working experience has been to maintain, enhance and extend legacy codebases, ensuring their continued efficiency and reliability while integrating modern best practices wherever possible. Experienced in JavaScript, Python and C++, I bring a versatile skill set to every project which I am also eager to expand should other technologies promise to be a better fit for the problem at hand. I also have solid knowledge in creating and maintaining automated test suites of complex integration tests using the Selenium framework ensuring high-quality and reliable software delivery.