Michael Baumgärtner
Software & IT Infrastructure Development
About Me
I recently completed my Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where I also earned my Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (2023) and in Management and Engineering (2019). During my studies, I gained international experience at the University of British Columbia (Canada) and the University of Florida (USA) through the Global Engineering Education Exchange Program.
In 2024, I was selected for the BMW Fastlane Scholarship Program and wrote my Master’s thesis at BMW, focusing on the performance and fine-tuning of Vision Language Models (VLMs) for infrared imagery inside vehicles.
Since November 2025, I have been leading Tech & AI Operations at Vice Golf. Alongside that, I continue to serve as Lead Tech Advisor at HIO-Fitting GmbH, where I was one of the first employees. Over the years, I built and scaled our IT infrastructure — developing iOS apps, managing cloud and on-premise systems, and leading a growing team of developers.
My earlier research explored machine learning, IoT, and sensor analytics in supply chain contexts. Beyond work, I enjoy golf, football, and skiing, and I’m passionate about 3D printing, CAD modeling, DIY drones, and emerging technologies.
Experience
Since 11/2025
Vice Sporting Goods GmbH
Tech & AI Operations Lead
Leading cross-functional teams focused on building and scaling data-driven and AI-powered solutions across Vice Golf’s global operations.
Overseeing the company’s complete technology stack — from e-commerce and logistics systems to customer experience platforms — ensuring robust performance, automation, and scalability across all departments.
Driving innovation in AI integration, analytics, and process optimization to enhance operational efficiency and business intelligence.
Programming Languages: Swift, Python, Rust, JavaScript
Since 07/2023
HIO Fitting GmbH
Head of Software and IT infrastructure development
Leading multiple development teams focused on creating innovative software solutions.
Overseeing company-wide IT infrastructure, encompassing applications in production, sales, supply chain management, and customer relationship management (CRM).
Programming Languages: Swift, Python, C, Javascript
04/2024 - 09/2025
BMW Group Fastlane Scholarship
The „BMW-Fastlane“ scholarship program is a performance-oriented program to support high-performing and highly motivated students during their master’s studies. Participants in this program are expected to show above-average commitment, above-average performance, and a high degree of initiative throughout the entire duration of the scholarship contract. Components of the program include personality training, pitch training, brand and customer training, semester workshops, plant assignments, and practical assignments in various departments.
Departments:
JC-95: Development GenAI Architecture for future car platforms
EG-21: Supervision and further development of series-production vehicles
DE-20: Concepts and Innovation for the next digital car development
Programming-Languages: Python, C++, VBA
09/2023 - 03/2024
Audi AG
Research-Internship in the Virtual Production Planning-Department
– Development of an autonomous 3D-Scanning Method for the production plants of the AUDI AG
– Testing of different Scan methods and Scanners
– Testing of different autonomous transport vehicles (SPOT, ANYmal, AGV, Conveyors)
Programming Languages: Matlab, Python
03/2022 - 12/2022
BMW Group
Research-Internship in the Autonomous-Driving-Department
Implementation of a validation pipeline of Reprocessing Units for faster feature development, quality assurance and ISO-certification. Feature development for the area “Reprocessing as a Service” (RaaS) and Feature development for the area “Reprocessing validation” (RDIFF)
Programming Languages: C++, Python, Java
10/2018 - 07/2023
HIO Fitting GmbH
Software Development Specalist
Development of IT-Infrastructure, which includes production, sales, supply-chain-management and customer-relations management applications.
Programming Languages: Swift, Python, C, Javascript
10/2017 - 10/2018
HIO Fitting GmbH
Head of Software and IT-infrastructure development
Responsible for the development of production & sales applications.
Programming Languages: Swift, Python
01/2017 - 09/2017
Wrangel Real Estate
Preparing meetings by researching, evaluating and analyzing data.
Assisted with sorting and collecting 1000s of data points for the internal data base.
Social Commitment
Since 10/2019
Volunteer internship at Mantahari Oceancare
Helping to reduce pollution in the oceans through support of the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF), which is a marine conservation organization that conducts research and science to educate the public and the Indonesian government about the causes of the problem of polluted oceans and to combat the problem at source.
12/2017 - 03/2021
Volunteer Ski instructor
Education
03/2025 - 08/2025
Master Thesis at BMW Group
Topic: Bridging the Gap: Fine-Tuning Vision-Language
Models for Infrared Image Understanding in the Automotive Context
• Benchmarking and fine-tuning state-of-the-art Vision-Language Models (VLMs) for automotive edge devices, focusing on infrared and RGB imagery.
• Enhancing VLM performance through custom prompt engineering and infrared dataset development for improved real-time automotive applications.
10/2023 - 08/2025
M. Sc. Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Technical University Munich
01/2023 - 05/2023
Bachelor Thesis at BMW Group
• Setup and implementation of a pipeline for accurate determination of settling time for Reprocessing Units (RPUs)
• Adjustment of the existing reprocessing pipeline to simplify validation and recording of settling times
• Analysis and scientific breakdown of sensor settling times
08/2021 - 12/2021
Study exchange with the Global Engineering Education Exchange Program (E3) at University of Florida, United States of America
10/2019 - 09/2024
B. Sc. Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Technical University Munich
06/2019 - 09/2019
Bachelor Thesis at HIO Fitting GmbH
• Implementation of an autonomous procurement system using LSTM-Neural Networks for predictive procurement to improve the supply chain processes.
08/2018 – 12/2018
Term abroad at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
10/2016 – 09/2019
B. Sc. Management & Technology at the Technical University Munich
2008 - 2016
Abitur at Staatl. Wilhelmsgymnasium München
Skills
Programming Languages
Software / Frameworks / Cloud / Dev Tools
miscellaneous
05/2021
Winner of GPT-3 Makeathon @ TUM.ai
Winner of a GPT-3 Makeathon with a jury from Microsoft, IBM, OpenAI, TUM Venture Labs, appliedAI).
Project Mediport:
Creation of an easy to read and interactive report, which a doctor (specifically dentist) can generate automatically from the patients data, directly out of the patient management software. The aim is to empower the patient, give him more health awareness and therefore cares more about his health. This should lead to lower costs for health insurance companies, because preventing health issues is cheaper than curing them.
Presentation: Youtube Link to Presentation
Contact
- www.michael-baumgaertner.com
- mb@docbaumgaertner.com
- + 49 (151) 44554356