Thomas Dohmke, CEO, GitHub
Thomas Dohmke’s story begins in the bustling academic environment of Technische Universität Berlin, where he enrolled in 1998 to study computer engineering. Over five years, he mastered “Technische Informatik,” a demanding program that combines software programming with hardware systems design.
This dual expertise became the backbone of his future endeavors. But Dohmke’s thirst for knowledge and interdisciplinary problem-solving pushed him further. He took a bold step beyond national borders to the University of Glasgow in Scotland, where he pursued a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from 2003 to 2008. His doctoral research was groundbreaking — he applied test-driven development, a software engineering practice, to the field of control system design in mechanical engineering.
This unique blend allowed him to innovate in how machines and software interact, signaling his ability to merge theory with practical, cross-domain solutions.
Driving innovation in the automotive industry
Upon completing his Ph.D., Dohmke plunged into the fast-paced world of automotive engineering. From 2002 to 2006, he worked at DaimlerChrysler (now Daimler AG) as a systems engineer, where his role involved designing sophisticated control systems for luxury vehicles.
These systems laid the groundwork for advanced driver assistance features that have now become standard safety measures in modern cars. Following this, he joined Robert Bosch GmbH as a project manager from 2007 to 2008. There, Dohmke led software teams developing innovative parking assistance and vehicle safety technologies. His leadership ensured that the software delivered not only met functional requirements but also adhered to the highest standards of reliability and user safety.
These roles gave him invaluable experience managing technical teams and projects in highly regulated, high-stakes environments.
Entrepreneurship and the Microsoft chapter
In 2008, Dohmke co-founded HockeyApp, a platform designed to simplify the mobile app testing and distribution process. HockeyApp became a go-to solution for developers worldwide to deploy beta versions, collect crash reports, and iterate quickly. This entrepreneurial venture showcased Dohmke’s
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