The 67-year-old Bremen native began his career with an apprenticeship as a shipping and shipbroking clerk. He later pursued a degree in Industrial Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences in Bremerhaven. He gained extensive professional experience during his work with various shipbroking companies in Bremen. 

For nearly ten years, Mr. Bullwinkel served as Managing Director of Seaports of Niedersachsen GmbH, where he was responsible for marketing the ports of Lower Saxony. On October 1, 2013, he assumed the role of Managing Director of Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven JadeWeserPort-Marketing GmbH & Co. KG, a position he held successfully until his retirement in July 2023.

In March 2024, he returned to his former place of work and took on the interim role of Managing Director at Seaports of Niedersachsen GmbH, a position he will hold until the end of 2024. The management will be handed over to his successor in January 2025.

Since April 15, 2025, he has been serving as President of the Wilhelmshaven Port Business Association (Wilhelmshavener Hafenwirtschafts-Vereinigung e.V.).