Sidekicks
AI Initiative

Eliminating friction, restoring flow

The Sidekicks initiative is smartclip’s dedicated response to the operational complexity plaguing the media industry. We are a cross-functional task force focused on bringing agentic AI not only into smartclip operations but to the advertising and media industry. Unlike traditional structures, we operate with the speed and agility of a start-up within smartclip, dedicated to safeguarding organisational knowledge while enhancing the productivity and performance of our colleagues and clients. We don’t just build tools; we provide intelligence that integrates seamlessly into the day-to-day reality of media professionals, turning manual hurdles into automated workflows.

Our philosophy.

At the core of our initiative is the belief in “sovereignty over knowledge”. We are committed to ensuring that AI remains a tool to enhance businesses, not a third-party black box that leaks proprietary intelligence. We champion speed, ownership, and pragmatism. We believe that while starting work is easy, finishing it is sacred. We are driven by data, not gut feelings, and we operate with the understanding that experiments must end in clear decisions. In this task force, everyone is expected to understand the big picture — spanning Tech, Product, Marketing, and Sales — to ensure we deliver solutions that genuinely resolve the friction points our clients face.

Stefano Matteucci,
Product Management

Hi, I’m Stefano Matteucci, and I act as the Project Lead for the Sidekicks initiative. Think of me as the central hub of the wheel. While I don’t manage everyone in a traditional reporting line sense, I am the person you need to work with to keep momentum. My role is to facilitate, unblock, and ensure that the brilliant work of our specialists turns into deployed reality. I value clear communication and early signals, and I’m here to help us move fast and ship reliable products.

Sven Teresniak,
Data Science

Hi, I’m Sven, and I pressure-test our ideas before they become products. I evaluate what current AI can realistically deliver and build prototypes that show whether something works under real conditions — not just in theory. My background is in NLP, information retrieval, and classical machine learning — from back when AI was a method, not a moat. That perspective helps me separate hype from substance: not every problem needs an LLM, and not every demo survives contact with real data. My output is Python, not PowerPoint — and it’s built to be picked up, deployed, and iterated on, not admired from a distance.

Julian Goede,
Data Engineering

Hi, I’m Julian, and I am responsible for the AI Engineering at Sidekicks. My work spans the full lifecycle of our AI agents and self-hosted models: from initial deployment to the ongoing work ensuring they remain reliable, secure and scalable. To me, AI engineering is a discipline that leverages AI on top of best software engineering practices to build better products faster. That’s why I prefer pragmatic solutions over complex ones, deterministic systems where appropriate, and decisions based on data over gut-feeling.

How our task force is organised.

Our Product Managers focus on the “why” and the “what”. They are the navigators of the initiative, tasked with understanding the operational friction in the market — whether that is the fragmented tools of Media Planners or the heavy workloads of Ad Ops Specialists. They ensure that every agent we develop solves a real-world problem and aligns with our philosophy of control and privacy. They translate market needs into clear product visions that drive the team forward.

The Data Scientists focus on the “how”. They are the architects of the intelligence behind our agents. Leveraging their expertise in machine learning and AI, they design the models that power our solutions. They tackle the complex challenges, ensuring that our AI is not only smart but also secure and compliant. Their work transforms raw potential into intelligent capabilities.

Once a proof-of-concept shows promise, our AI Data Engineering team takes the helm to bring it to a production-ready level. They are the bridge between the “possible” and the “practical”. This team focuses on productisation, ensuring that the innovative solutions designed by our Data Scientists are robust, maintainable, and ready for the real world. They handle the critical infrastructure, monitoring, and long-term maintenance, ensuring that when we deliver a solution, it stays delivered.

Our tools.
These are a few of our favourite things…

“The best part is the freedom to do good work properly. No micromanagement, no calendar full of interruptions – just room to think and real trust in how I work. And that trust runs both ways. Everyone here is genuinely good at what they do, which is what allows us to move fast and help shape where the field is going.”

Christian Hoffmann, UI Engineer – AI
Sidekicks

Open roles on the team.

Oops! Looks like you’ve stumbled upon the secret hideout of the “Not Hiring Right Now” department. Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us! Unfortunately, at this moment, our team is not in search of new recruits. However, we’re always eager to connect with fantastic folks like yourself, so don’t let that discourage you.

Instead of twiddling your thumbs and staring longingly at our non-existent job listings, why not take the reins and reach out to us? We’d love to get to know you and see if there might be a place for your unique talents and skills in the future.

Join the fun.

Become a smartclipper in 6 steps.

1
Get in touch

Send us an application or contact our recruiter Sarah for an informal chat to get to know each other.

2
Review

Our recruiter will review your application and may host an initial interview to get a better idea of who you are and what you are passionate about.

3
Interview

Join the hiring manager and recruiter in an interview to learn more about the role, and see if it’s a good match for all.

4
Challenge

Let’s see how it is to work together. Meet one of your teammates and accept a challenge (coding assignment for tech or case study for others).

5
Final decision

Both you and our team reflect on the process, and ultimately determine whether we can envision working together.

6
Offer

You like us, we like you. Let’s do this! Sign up to be a smartclipper.

Spoil yourselfwith corporate perks.

Anniversary Programme

We treasure every moment you spend with us, and when the days turn into years, we mark it with a little gift — even from your first year!

Corporate Benefits

Are you sporty, techy, adventurous, stylish, or nerdy? Whichever category you belong to, you can benefit from our numerous discount offerings and get up to 40% off your purchases.

Gift Matching

Care for a good cause? We do too. When you donate to a charity, we’ll double your donations — up to €250.

Mental Health

When life happens or if you just want to talk to a mental health expert, we’ve got you covered in Cologne, Hamburg, or remotely wherever you are.

Referral
Programme

Get rewarded when you refer someone for one of our open roles and they get the job.

RTL+

As part of RTL Deutschland, you can enjoy all your favourite TV shows with free access to an RTL+ Premium account.

Social Day

Every year, you can take a fully paid day off to support a cause you care about — together with other smartclippers or alone, you decide.

Sports

We support a healthy lifestyle through various options such as gym reimbursement, urban sports club membership, or even leasing a bike. There’s definitely something for you.

Thank you Programme

Every six months, smartclippers can show gratitude and reward exceptional colleagues with a €100 bonus — all on us!

See all perks

Hi, I’m Sarah, Head of Talent Acquisition at smartclip. 
Let’s talk.

Contact us
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