Sebastian Elsner

Software PIPELINES DevOps Machine Learning

I automate the boring stuff.

Software team lead & engineer. Fifteen years building pipeline software for visual effects; lately focused on machine‑learning systems that earn their keep. Python, infra, the boring parts that hold productions together.

also: hurdy-gurdy player. more on that below.

hello@sebastianelsner.de github linkedin imdb /blog

recent writing

May 8, 2026

The future is already here. It's just not evenly distributed. Well, maybe.

A small, practical experiment: can AI handle part of my tax legwork?
Apr 26, 2026

Vibing with the unpopular kids

What happens when you point a coding agent at XWiki — and why ecosystem knowledge still matters.
Apr 19, 2026

On Open Source Agentic Coding

Open source is making giant leaps, but is still quite behind.

 all posts

experience

2023–now

Innovation Lead, Machine Learning

RISE | Visual Effects

Driving the company-wide ML rollout — generative tools and automation that have started replacing hundreds of hours of manual work.

2009–2022

Head of Pipeline

RISE | Visual Effects

Built and led the engineering org from a handful of people to a department of ~25. Designed the central platform and ran a hybrid, air-gapped compute infrastructure for the whole studio.

2003–now

Systems Architect & Tech Lead

Freelance

Cloud workflows and GenAI tooling for marketing production. Most recent: a textile-rendering pipeline for LIDL at roughly a tenth of the cost-per-image of traditional on-set shoots.

2004–now

Co-founder & Tech Lead

CuraExpert

Independent SaaS knowledge platform for medical practitioners. Quietly running for two decades.

skills

// LLMs have thinned the line between roles. I run end‑to‑end now — from product framing to infra.

delivery
workflow design system architecture full product ownership
leadership
cross-functional teams agile & scrum 20-person org leadership
industries
Visual effects (RISE) Retail at scale (LIDL / Schwarz Gruppe) Boutique to enterprise
languages
Python — desktop & web TypeScript SQL Bash
infra
DockerTerraformAzure private cloudon-prem opsLinux
data
MySQLPostgreSQLRedis distributed compute & queues
tools
GitGitHub / GitLab review

education

2004–2009

University of Applied Sciences Stuttgart

B.Sc. · Audiovisual Media
2000–2003

Albertus-Magnus-Gymnasium Rottweil

Ancient Languages Program
— interlude —

music

Pipeline by day, hurdy-gurdy by night.

I play the hurdy‑gurdy in FIOR, a German folk band rendering 18th‑century music in a modern hand. Concerts happen. Lessons and workshops too — if you've ever wanted to learn the most stubborn instrument in Europe, write to me.

awards & certifications

community & speaking