Job description

We help the world run better At SAP, we keep it simple: you bring your best to us, and we'll bring out the best in you. We're builders touching over 20 industries and 80% of global commerce, and we need your unique talents to help shape what's next. The work is challenging – but it matters. You'll find a place where you can be yourself, prioritize your wellbeing, and truly belong. What's in it for you? Constant learning, skill growth, great benefits, and a team that wants you to grow and succeed. SUMMARY: As an Expert Development Architect, you will play a pivotal role in shaping SAP’s future architecture strategy in alignment with our AI first and Suite first product direction. Reporting directly to the Head of Architecture (US), you will serve as a deep technical expert, driving innovation across SAP’s portfolio by designing and enabling next-generation, cloud-native, and AI-integrated architectures.You will work in a global, cross-functional setup and engage with strategic architecture topics that influence platform evolution, product strategy, and customer outcomes. With your technical depth and hands-on attitude, you will help ensure our solutions are scalable, intelligent, secure, and future-ready. YOUR FUTURE ROLE: · Champion architectural excellence across multiple teams, ensuring alignment with SAP’s AI- first and Suite-first strategic direction. · Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of major architectural initiatives - from ideation to implementation – focusing on scalability, performance, and security at every stage. · Foster a collaborative, high-performing team environment by facilitating effective communication and alignment between stakeholders and technical teams. · Proactively identify and evaluate architecture risks, deliver strategic recommendations and influence key management decisions. · Work closely with executive leadership and product teams to define and drive architectural roadmaps that align with SAP’s broader business objectives. · Future-proof SAP’s technology landscape by promoting the adoption of innovative approaches, integrating emerging trends such as AI, machine learning, cloud native solutions. · Collaborate with global teams to ensure architecture decisions are adaptable, scalable and meet diverse business needs. · Design and manage cloud- and AI system-architectures for complex customer solutions, ensuring technical strategies align with business requirements and deliver measurable value. · Continuously enhance development processes, driving efficiency, scalability, and innovation across SAP's offerings. YOUR PROFILE: · 8+ years of experience in software architecture with recognized expertise and thought leadership in one or more areas: AI system architecture, cloud-native frameworks, large-scale distributed systems. · Expertise in multiple modern programming languages and environments such as Java, Javascript, Python, Go, and related modern technologies. · Advanced knowledge of software architecture and cloud infrastructures (AWS, Azure, GCP) with a strong focus on scalability and performance optimization · Deep proficiency in container technologies, Kubernetes (including Gardener), microservices, and network technology · Experience with SAP technologies, BTP, and enterprise integration landscapes. · Proven success designing and implementing large-scale, distributed systems using modern cloud platforms and technologies like Kubernetes, containers, microservices, AWS, Azure, GCP. · Strong expertise in distributed systems, data or AI/ML architecture, including experience with model training, deployment, MLOps, and AI service integration. · Experience working with cross-functional teams and executive stakeholders to align technical and business objectives. · Exceptional analytical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities · Extensive experience in writing technical documentation and providing technical leadership to teams · Fluency in English, with strong communication skills to liaise with both technical and non-technical stakeholders · Demonstrated ability to share and communicate ideas to executive staff, technical resources and other key constituents in clear, concise language. ABOUT THE TEAM: The CTO area’s mission is to future proof our customers and SAP. Together we evolve SAP’s technology strategy and North Star architecture, explore the impact of emerging technologies on SAP’s portfolio and leverage the insights for build/buy/partner decisions. We accelerate innovation across SAP’s portfolio, collaborating with engineering teams in SAP, partners, and start-ups across the globe. With Business AI and Sustainability, we accelerate SAP’s long-term growth and market leadership. #SAPCTOarch Bring out your best SAP innovations help more than four hundred thousand customers worldwide work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively. Originally known for leadership in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, SAP has evolved to become a market leader in end-to-end business application software and related services for database, analytics, intelligent technologies, and experience management. As a cloud company with two hundred million users and more than one hundred thousand employees worldwide, we are purpose-driven and future-focused, with a highly collaborative team ethic and commitment to personal development. Whether connecting global industries, people, or platforms, we help ensure every challenge gets the solution it deserves. At SAP, you can bring out your best. We win with inclusion SAP’s culture of inclusion, focus on health and well-being, and flexible working models help ensure that everyone – regardless of background – feels included and can run at their best. At SAP, we believe we are made stronger by the unique capabilities and qualities that each person brings to our company, and we invest in our employees to inspire confidence and help everyone realize their full potential. We ultimately believe in unleashing all talent and creating a better world. SAP is committed to the values of Equal Employment Opportunity and provides accessibility accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with SAP and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please send an e-mail with your request to Recruiting Operations Team: Careers@sap.com. For SAP employees: Only permanent roles are eligible for the SAP Employee Referral Program , according to the eligibility rules set in the SAP Referral Policy. Specific conditions may apply for roles in Vocational Training. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their age, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, et al), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or disability. Compensation Range Transparency : SAP believes the value of pay transparency contributes towards an honest and supportive culture and is a significant step toward demonstrating SAP’s commitment to pay equity. SAP provides the annualized compensation range inclusive of base salary and variable incentive target for the career level applicable to the posted role. The targeted combined range for this position is 218300 - 420000(USD) USD. The actual amount to be offered to the successful candidate will be within that range, dependent upon the key aspects of each case which may include education, skills, experience, scope of the role, location, etc. as determined through the selection process. Any SAP variable incentive includes a targeted dollar amount and any actual payout amount is dependent on company and personal performance. Please reference this link for a summary of SAP benefits and eligibility requirements: SAP North America Benefits . AI Usage in the Recruitment Process For information on the responsible use of AI in our recruitment process, please refer to our Guidelines for Ethical Usage of AI in the Recruiting Process . Please note that any violation of these guidelines may result in disqualification from the hiring process. Requisition ID: 449747 | Work Area: Software-Design and Development | Expected Travel: 0 - 10% | Career Status: Professional | Employment Type: Regular Full Time | Additional Locations: #LI-Hybrid

Requirements

Must-haves

We help the world run better
Champion architectural excellence across multiple teams, ensuring alignment with SAP’s AI- first and Suite-first strategic direction.
Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of major architectural initiatives - from ideation to implementation – focusing on scalability, performance, and security at every stage.
Foster a collaborative, high-performing team environment by facilitating effective communication and alignment between stakeholders and technical teams.
Proactively identify and evaluate architecture risks, deliver strategic recommendations and influence key management decisions.
Work closely with executive leadership and product teams to define and drive architectural roadmaps that align with SAP’s broader business objectives.
Future-proof SAP’s technology landscape by promoting the adoption of innovative approaches, integrating emerging trends such as AI, machine learning, cloud native solutions.
Collaborate with global teams to ensure architecture decisions are adaptable, scalable and meet diverse business needs.
Design and manage cloud- and AI system-architectures for complex customer solutions, ensuring technical strategies align with business requirements and deliver measurable value.
Continuously enhance development processes, driving efficiency, scalability, and innovation across SAP's offerings.
8+ years of experience in software architecture with recognized expertise and thought leadership in one or more areas: AI system architecture, cloud-native frameworks, large-scale distributed systems.
Expertise in multiple modern programming languages and environments such as Java, Javascript, Python, Go, and related modern technologies.
Advanced knowledge of software architecture and cloud infrastructures (AWS, Azure, GCP) with a strong focus on scalability and performance optimization
Deep proficiency in container technologies, Kubernetes (including Gardener), microservices, and network technology
Experience with SAP technologies, BTP, and enterprise integration landscapes.
Proven success designing and implementing large-scale, distributed systems using modern cloud platforms and technologies like Kubernetes, containers, microservices, AWS, Azure, GCP.
Strong expertise in distributed systems, data or AI/ML architecture, including experience with model training, deployment, MLOps, and AI service integration.
Experience working with cross-functional teams and executive stakeholders to align technical and business objectives.
Exceptional analytical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities
Extensive experience in writing technical documentation and providing technical leadership to teams
Fluency in English, with strong communication skills to liaise with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to share and communicate ideas to executive staff, technical resources and other key constituents in clear, concise language.
Bring out your best
We win with inclusion

Nice-to-haves

None flagged.

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Keywords to mirror

aimachine learningjavajavascriptpythongoawsazuregcpkubernetesmlaccessibility

Platform: successfactors
Effort: medium