Skip to content
ASE Academy
DE

ASE Coaching Program

Four levels. One path.

Individual coaching. On your code. Over years. For teams that don't just work agile, but deliver technical excellence.

View Program 

  1. FLFoundation

  2. CLCompetent

  3. ALAdvanced

  4. PLPractitioner

Your team delivers. But…

  • New features take longer and longer, even though the team is growing
  • Experienced developers plateau: they know the syntax, but not the design
  • Knowledge from training courses evaporates after 2 weeks in the project
  • AI tools speed up output, but not quality

The problem isn't missing knowledge. It's missing guidance in applying it.

The programs

Designed to improve software developers' practical skills.

Structure
Two programs of two levels each: Competency in Modern SWE and Software Design (Foundation, Competent), then Excellence in Architecture and Legacy Code (Advanced, Practitioner).
Duration
One intensive coaching year per level.
Modular
You decide after each level whether to continue.
Entering Excellence
After the Competent Level: directly within five years of the certification, afterwards with an assessment. Or as an experienced developer: with three years of experience, an assessment on your own code and a module you may shape, with your employer's agreement. An iSAQB CPSA-F certificate counts as evidence.
Certification
By invitation only: your coach decides when you are ready.
Revised every year
For years now, with the view from research, through Prof. Dr. Christian Drumm (FH Aachen), and from practice: what is new and what you really need to know.

ABAP · Java · TypeScriptLanguage-agnostic program, specialized in Enterprise Business Software.

CompetencyASE Engineer
ExcellenceSenior ASE Engineer / Tech Lead Developer

Foundation Level

The fundamentals no university teaches:

  • Clean Objects
  • Unit Testing
  • TDD
  • Software Design
  • AI Assistance Basics

Competent Level

From working code to maintainable code:

  • Clean Code
  • Refactoring
  • Code Smells
  • Design Patterns
  • AI Assistance

After the Competent Level, you receive the certification, equivalent to an ASE Engineer.

Advanced Level

Owning the architecture of one module:

  • Hexagonal Architecture
  • Outside-in TDD and ATDD
  • Architecture rules as tests
  • Legacy Code Improvement
  • AI Assistance

Practitioner Level

Owning the architecture of the system and the strategy for legacy code:

From a master's degree to mastery: through deliberate practice, you take what you learned in study or training all the way to mastery.

  • System architecture
  • Legacy strategy and software modernization
  • Feedback Driven Development
  • Deliberate Programming
  • AI Assistance

After the Practitioner Level, you receive the certification, equivalent to a Senior ASE Engineer or Tech Lead Developer.

Agentic Engineering

A track of the coaching program for working with AI agents on your own code. It adds to the levels; it replaces none of them.

Entry
At every level. Without a level, an Agentic Engineering training is the way in.
Duration
Six months, 1:1 on your own code.
In the coaching program
Recommended for coachees, as an addition at every level.
Two editions
For developers, and for leads who own the architecture.
Structure
A shared part for both editions, then the part for your role.

More on Agentic Engineering 

What our participants say

  • Ronny Buholzer Software Engineer

    The in-depth and continuous treatment of the topics enables a level of insight that wouldn’t be possible through individual training sessions.

  • Maximilian Janik Java Software Engineer

    It provides materials such as Katas, Books and private coaching sessions, as well as homework. These tasks will bring coding skills to the next level.

  • Stephen Wolf Senior Software Engineer

    In everything needed for development, I particularly improved in areas like testing, clean code, OOP, and even my soft skills.

  • David Portmann Managing Director / Consultant

    Ich wurde gefordert und immer wieder dazu gebracht, neue Lösungsansätze zu nutzen. So viel habe ich schon lange nicht mehr in einem Jahr gelernt.

  • Florin Catalin Ene Senior SAP Software Engineer

    Through this coaching, the quality of my software solutions has significantly improved.

Book an intro call 

Agile and AI alone aren't enough.

Scrum, Kanban, SAFe organize the work. AI can write code quickly. Neither, on its own, guarantees good code. Even well-steered AI needs someone who knows where it should go: someone who recognizes good code, checks it and builds it so it can still be changed tomorrow. That's where ASE works: on your judgment of code.

For developers

For developers who want to work on their software developer skills and overcome personal barriers, we offer a tailored coaching program. Through individual mentoring and hands-on exercises, you develop the skills you need for your next career step.

View Program 

For managers

Only when the full potential of your software development team is realized do you achieve optimal results. The ASE Coaching Program helps you systematically increase your team's performance and achieve measurable improvements.

Explore coaching for managers 

Your questions, our answers

Why is the ASE Coaching Program right for me or my team?

Our program goes beyond technical training. It combines individual development with practical application, so that developers not only acquire new knowledge but can also apply it directly in their daily work. The ACE method ensures sustainable improvements.

How does ASE Coaching differ from other coaching programs?

Unlike many other programs, we focus on individual coaching rather than group training. Every developer is met where they are and receives a customized development plan. Moreover, our program is practice-oriented: the skills learned are applied directly in the project.

Is the program also suitable for experienced developers?

Yes. The Competency program starts with Foundation Level. Experienced developers can enter the Excellence program, on architecture and legacy code, directly: with three years of experience, an assessment on their own code and a module they may shape, with their employer's agreement.

How long does the ASE Coaching Program last?

The two programs comprise four levels, each an intensive coaching year. The total duration depends on how many levels are completed and the pace of individual progress.

How is the success of the coaching measured?

We use various metrics, including code quality indicators, feedback from code reviews, personal development goals, and feedback from participants and their teams. At the end of each level, a practical certification takes place.

Do I need to complete every level?

No. The program is modular. From the very first level, you gain tangible skills and confidence. After each level, you decide whether what you've achieved is enough or whether you want to continue.

Is ASE right for you?

Good fit

  • You invest in yourself, not just in tools
  • You want to get better, not just faster
  • You're looking for guidance, not a seminar

Not a fit

  • You expect results in three months
  • You need a training course for the compliance report
  • Price is the most important criterion

Looking for shorter formats?

Our trainings complement the coaching program: public in one day, or in-house for a whole team.

View Trainings 

Is this right for you?

Honest. No sales pressure. Let's look together at whether ASE fits your situation.

Book an intro call