Engineering journey / Dr.-Ing. Dennis Clausen
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02 / experience / 05 employers / 10 role records
From signals to systems.
Optical communications research and industrial software, connected by signal processing.
career.map
Select a stage to explore the work behind it.
Explore the stages; exact positions and dates remain in the employer records.
Stages describe professional development, not additional job titles or separate employment periods.
My engineering practice
My career connects research, implementation and architecture with team and group leadership. Digital signal processing is the technical thread: from adaptive optical communications to software in hydroacoustic engineering environments.
Employer records
expand to inspectCompany domains describe the organization. My work is listed separately under each employer.
ELAC SONAR GmbHMaritime technology / hydroacoustics3 roles +
My professional experience
- SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE
- SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
- ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP
Group Leader Software Engineering – Processingcurrent
Aug 2024–Present
Group leadership for processing software, alongside experience in software architecture and team leadership at ELAC SONAR.
Team Leader Software Engineering
Oct 2021–Mar 2025
Team leadership in software engineering, building on earlier architecture and development work in hydroacoustic systems.
Senior Software-Architect/Engineer
Dec 2020–Oct 2021
Software architecture alongside hands-on engineering, continuing the transition from signal-processing development into architecture.
Company context & sources
Organization / public context
- SONAR SYSTEMS
- UNDERWATER COMMUNICATION
- TRANSDUCERS
Kiel-based development and manufacturing of sonar systems, underwater communications, navigation echo sounders, transducers and hydrophones. A hydroacoustic engineering environment linking acoustic sensing with complex processing systems.
The ELAC lineage reaches back to ELECTROACUSTIC GmbH, founded in 1926. Previously Wärtsilä ELAC Nautik, the business joined Cohort in December 2020 and became ELAC SONAR.
Wärtsilä ELAC Nautik GmbHMaritime engineering / hydroacoustic systems3 roles +
My professional experience
- C++ / ASSIGNMENT
- DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING
- SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE
Senior Software-Engineer / Software-Architect
May 2020–Dec 2020
Combined software engineering and software architecture in the hydroacoustic development environment at ELAC Nautik.
Software-Engineer
Jul 2019–Dec 2020
Worked on software in a hydroacoustic engineering environment, following the earlier C++ signal-processing assignment.
Development Engineer (assignment through Modis)
Feb 2018–Dec 2018
Developed and improved digital signal processing software in C++ during an R&D assignment through Modis.
Company context & sources
Organization / public context
- SONAR
- HYDROACOUSTICS
- UNDERWATER COMMUNICATION
During the Wärtsilä period, ELAC Nautik specialized in hydroacoustic products: sonar, underwater communication and echo systems. Its engineering context combined maritime electronics with signal processing.
ELAC Nautik entered Wärtsilä through the 2015 acquisition of L-3 Communications MSI. The sale to Cohort was announced in December 2019 and completed in December 2020; the business subsequently became ELAC SONAR.
Raytheon Anschütz GmbHMaritime navigation / bridge systems1 role +
My professional experience
- C++
- IT SECURITY
- LDAP / SAMBA
Software Developer
Mar 2019–Jun 2019
Developed IT security software for integrated navigation systems, working with C++ authentication, authorization and accounting algorithms and an LDAP architecture based on SAMBA.
Company context & sources
Organization / public context
- INTEGRATED NAVIGATION
- BRIDGE SYSTEMS
- MARITIME ELECTRONICS
A Kiel navigation specialist and integrator of bridge systems. The public SYNAPSIS documentation brings radar, electronic chart display and conning into a common navigation environment—a concrete example of software-intensive maritime electronics.
Raytheon Anschütz is the historical employer name for 2019. DMB took over the group on 27 February 2023; the subsequent company name is Anschütz GmbH.
Modis GmbHEngineering services / technology consulting1 role +
My professional experience
- SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
Software Engineer
Jan 2019–Feb 2019
Software development at Modis, between the separately recorded ELAC Nautik assignment and Raytheon Anschütz role.
Company context & sources
Organization / public context
- ENGINEERING SERVICES
- DIGITAL SERVICES
- TECHNICAL CONSULTING
An Adecco Group technology services business connecting engineering and digital work. Contemporary group material describes consulting and engineering services; client assignments form a different relationship from the employing organization.
Modis is retained as the employer name in the CV. AKKA and Modis were combined from 2022 in the business now known as Akkodis. This later brand is not used as a historical employer name.
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu KielAcademic research / communications engineering2 roles +
My professional experience
- DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING
- MATLAB / C / C++
- EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
Doctoral Research Assistant / Research Fellow
Jul 2012–Mar 2019
Researched adaptive digital signal processing for flexible optical networks, combining algorithm development and simulations in Matlab, C and C++ with experimental evaluation in a fiber-optic laboratory.
Chair of Communications; digital signal processing research, software development and teaching.
Student Research Assistant
Jan 2012–Jun 2012
Continued the optical communications research from my diploma thesis and worked towards publishing the findings, bridging degree work and further academic research.
Company context & sources
Organization / public context
- OPTICAL TRANSMISSION
- COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING
- SIGNAL PROCESSING
The Faculty of Engineering’s communications research connects optical transmission, signal processing and communication networks. The current chair also lists completed research, giving organizational context alongside the historical doctoral work.
The university register records the dissertation title and examination on 8 September 2020. The degree certificate date in the verified CV is 19 February 2021; the research employment period remains Jul 2012–Mar 2019.
Chronology & earlier experience recorded periods
Some recorded positions overlap: Team Leader (Oct 2021–Mar 2025) and Group Leader (since Aug 2024); Software-Engineer (Jul 2019–Dec 2020) and Senior Software-Engineer / Software-Architect (May–Dec 2020). The periods are shown separately, without inferring a single promotion date.
Historical company names and client assignments remain distinct from role dates. The Feb–Dec 2018 ELAC Nautik assignment through Modis and Jan–Feb 2019 Modis employment are separate records.
Earlier experience
- Fachpraktikum: L-3 Communications ELAC Nautik GmbH (Mar–Jun 2011)
- Grundpraktikum: VEERS Elektronik + Meerestechnik (Oct 2008–Jan 2009)
- Wehrdienst / Fernmeldedienst, Bundeswehr (Jul 2004–Sep 2005)
The L-3 ELAC Nautik internship predates Wärtsilä ownership. The earlier company name is retained; the public ELAC history documents the later ownership transitions.
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