“A life marked by drive, openness, and connection”
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our esteemed colleague and longtime employee Dirk Hautermann, who left us far too soon at the age of just 46. His work at the WZL, MTI, and IT Center was characterized by dedication, professional expertise, and a consistently open, honest, and engaging manner that made him equally popular and respected among colleagues at all levels. His career is not merely a sequence of professional milestones, but also a testament to his willingness to learn, his sense of responsibility, and his ability to share knowledge and shape structures for the benefit of all.
Dirk Hautermann began his association with RWTH in August 2001 as a young, inquisitive intern during his apprenticeship at the Chair of Measurement Technology and Quality Management (MQ) at the Machine Tool Laboratory (WZL). Even then, his conscientious and eager-to-learn nature was evident, making him a valued member of the team. The period leading up to 2004 had a lasting impact on him—both professionally and personally—through initial connections that would shape his future work. After completing his apprenticeship, he returned to the department in April 2005—while pursuing his studies—as a student assistant. With his well-known reliability and willingness to help, he quickly earned the trust of all his colleagues. At the same time, he supported the central IT department at the WZL, where his technical expertise and down-to-earth manner made him a sought-after point of contact.
In April 2009, he transitioned to a permanent position as an IT specialist in systems engineering and took on responsibility for first-level support—a role that presented him with new challenges every day as he dealt with research staff eager to experiment. His patient, solution-oriented approach and his tireless dedication made him an indispensable pillar of support for researchers and staff alike. Always professional and friendly, he was ready at all times to explain even complex topics to colleagues and supervisors in a way they could understand.
A major milestone came in September 2014 with his certification as a Quality Management Representative (QMB-TÜV). He used this qualification to fundamentally overhaul and restructure the internal knowledge management portal at WZL. His systematic way of thinking and his talent for inspiring others led him not only to modernize the system but also to get numerous colleagues excited about structured documentation and process optimization through training sessions and workshops. Some at the WZL still follow his motto, “Well documented is half solved,” to this day.
In 2019, a new phase of his professional development began: the IT2 training program at RWTH Aachen University, which was recommended to him by the institute’s leadership, demonstrated his commitment to further developing and expanding his leadership skills. During this time, his colleagues increasingly saw him as a bridge between technology and people—capable of conveying complex IT topics in an understandable way while always maintaining collegial fairness.
In July 2020, his next career move took him to the MTI at RWTH, where he assumed the leadership role for the IT department within the chair. During a highly dynamic period of change, Dirk Hautermann was the driving force behind the restructuring of IT and its infrastructure. It was thanks to his great dedication and expertise that the challenges were overcome quickly and successfully.
In early 2022, Dirk Hautermann moved to the IT Center’s Systems and Operations Department. Many colleagues on campus already knew him as a point of contact due to his role at the WZL, and his well-known respectful and straightforward manner facilitated the transition—hearing his voice on the other end of an IT Center phone line was a pleasant surprise.
With the completion of IT2, Dirk took over responsibility for the “ADAM” service—a self-service interface for administrators offered across the entire RWTH—and became part of the “Cloud” team. There, he played a leading role in designing processes that remain in place today and from which the RWTH continues to benefit.
In early 2024, Dirk Hautermann became group leader of the Linux & Windows Applications group. This was a major responsibility that Dirk handled well from the very beginning, thanks to his extensive knowledge, his direct and pragmatic approach, and his strong leadership skills. In this role, he continuously modernized operations: processes were optimized, and services no longer needed were replaced with a new focus. He actively supported the IT Center’s role as a service provider for other universities and helped shape its operational structure.
Dirk Hautermann was more than a colleague—he was a trustworthy partner and a patient person who impressed others with his honesty and directness. His commitment to knowledge management and process optimization continues to leave a lasting impact that extends beyond his untimely death: many processes at the institutions where he worked and at RWTH are still clearer, more transparent, and more user-friendly today because he shaped them with structure and passion. His humorous, consistently professional approach to challenges and his composure even in stressful moments were just as defining as his loyalty to RWTH’s values—achievement, responsibility, and community.
We mourn the loss of a valued colleague, a reliable companion, and a person who left a lasting mark through his sincerity and warmth.
This obituary was compiled jointly from contributions by the WZL, the MTI, and the IT Center.