Principal/Lead SAP AI Architect (f/m/d)

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.

Where you belong:

You will join a high-performing, innovation-driven SAP AI architecture and engineering team at the intersection of enterprise SAP and artificial intelligence. Guided by our ambition — “Architect the Autonomous Enterprise, Develop and Deliver Today” — we turn complex ideas into scalable, production-grade SAP solutions.

The preferred candidate will possess insatiable curiosity, unbounded creativity, and a growth mindset to navigate ambiguity and deliver clarity within complex SAP environments. Driven by a passion for mentoring and a deep desire to teach and learn, they will naturally translate business problems into elegant SAP-native architectures and solutions while actively giving and receiving feedback to maximize the team's collective knowledge and best practice development.

What you’ll build:

You will serve as the SAP architectural authority for AI-driven solutions delivered to our external customers, ensuring every design decision is traceable back to measurable business impact within the SAP landscape. Specifically, you will:

• Engage closely with customers and SAP stakeholders to understand goals, challenges, and opportunities, translating them into a clear SAP AI architecture vision
• Design and deliver scalable, reliable end-to-end SAP AI solutions based on SAP AI Foundation and SAP Build Suite
• Lead architecture reviews and blueprint sessions, acting as a trusted advisor who communicates complex topics in a business-friendly way
• Define measurable success criteria and ensure performance, quality, and adoption across the SAP ecosystem
• Identify and prioritize high-value SAP-native AI use cases (e.g., S/4HANA, BDC, Analytics Cloud, BTP)
• Ensure responsible AI practices (transparency, fairness, explainability, data privacy) in all solutions
• Advise on latest SAP AI innovations on SAP Business AI Platform and support future-proof architectures, including migration from legacy approaches

You will take on a lead role within the SAP AI architecture team, with overall responsibility for direction, standards, and team development: Specifically, you will:

• Shape and govern the SAP AI architecture framework for the team, defining standards, patterns, and best practices to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery
• Drive the SAP AI strategy and roadmap for our unit, identifying capability gaps and advancing them through hiring, training, and tooling investments
• Lead pre-sales and solutioning activities, partnering with sales and delivery teams to develop compelling proposals and PoCs on SAP BTP and AI Core
• Mentor and coach architects, fostering capability growth through knowledge sharing and structured development
• Contribute to SAP thought leadership and Champion innovation by introducing emerging SAP AI technologies

What you bring:

1. Education & Track Record:

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, AI, Software Engineering, or a related field
• 10+ years of SAP experience, including 5+ years in a senior architect leadership role
• Proven thought leadership in the SAP ecosystem (e.g., community contributions, publications, conference speaking) is a strong plus
• Professional fluency in German and English (C1+)

1. Technical Expertise in SAP Architecture:

• Strong expertise in Fiori UI and CAP Framework for building enterprise-grade full-stack applications on SAP BTP
• Deep understanding of SAP architecture principles, including Clean Core, RISE with SAP, GROW with SAP, and cloud transformation frameworks
• Hands-on experience with SAP BTP services and tools (e.g., SAP Build, Process Automation, Build Apps, Integration Suite)
• Proven ability to design integration architectures across SAP and non-SAP systems using Integration Suite, API Management, Event Mesh, and Data Intelligence
• Deep familiarity with SAP data models and enterprise data architecture (e.g., S/4HANA, Datasphere)
• Deep expertise in enterprise integration patterns and protocols (e.g., APIs, OData, SOAP)

1. Technical Expertise in SAP AI Architecture:

• Strong knowledge of agentic AI frameworks (e.g., LangChain, AutoGen, CrewAI) combined with SAP Data Intelligence and Datasphere for orchestrating data and AI pipelines
• Experience designing Generative AI solutions on SAP BTP using Generative AI Hub, including RAG patterns, prompt engineering, and LLM orchestration
• Strong understanding of SAP AI Foundation on BTP (e.g., AI Core, multi-model serving, HANA Cloud vector engine, Document Information Extraction)
• Hands-on expertise with SAP HANA Cloud AI/ML capabilities (e.g., predictive analytics, vector search, SAP Analytics Cloud integration)
• Understanding of AI/ML lifecycle management and data orchestration using SAP Data Intelligence Cloud

1. Soft Skills, Project Management Skills & Leadership Skills:

• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, ability to convey complex SAP AI concepts clearly to both executives and technical teams
• Strong executive presence with the ability to build trust and credibility with C-level stakeholders, customers, and partners
• Strategic mindset with strong business acumen, linking SAP technology decisions to business outcomes and ROI
• Collaborative leadership style, driving alignment across cross-functional teams without formal authority
• Resilient and adaptable in fast-paced, evolving SAP project environments
• Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills, translating complex challenges into actionable solutions and roadmaps
• Solid project and program management expertise (e.g., Agile, SAFe, SAP Activate; tools like Jira, Confluence, SAP ALM)
• Experienced in stakeholder management, including navigating expectations, resistance, and SI relationships
• Passion for mentoring and developing talent, fostering the next generation of SAP AI architects

#SAPAICareers

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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, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, et al), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or disability, in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local legal requirements.

Successful candidates might be required to undergo a background verification with an external vendor.

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: 453323 | Work Area: Consulting and Professional Services | Expected Travel: 0 - 50% | Career Status: Professional | Employment Type: Regular Full Time, unlimited | #LI-Hybrid