Senior Data Scientist

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.

As a Senior Data Scientist/Senior Researcher, you will work within an international team of data scientists and data engineers to deliver top-grade machine learning-based cloud solutions into production. We solve real-world challenges posed by SAP's customers and product units with a focus on intelligent document processing, e.g., information extraction, OCR, and entity recognition. You will take one of the richest data sets available in industry to the next level, leveraging both traditional and cutting-edge AI techniques, including the latest advancements in GenAI, while embracing a strong MLOps culture to ensure robust, scalable, and maintainable solutions.

What you'll do

• Explore, understand, and implement the most recent machine learning and GenAI algorithms and approaches, including large language models (LLMs), transformers, and prompt engineering.
• Push the frontiers of what is possible in the area of machine learning with real data.
• Work with interdisciplinary teams of developers, designers, and business experts to develop solutions with real measurable customer impact, including the integration of GenAI capabilities
• Help to ensure performance, reliability, and ongoing improvement of our model deliverables—including GenAI models—by applying MLOps best practices such as automated testing, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), monitoring, and model versioning in close collaboration with development teams.
• Naturally work cross-group (Developers, Product Managers, and stakeholders) to bring teams together and deliver state-of-the-art applied AI products. Provide technical leadership to junior members of the team.

What you bring

• In-depth AI and data science knowledge, with a focus on deep learning and GenAI (e.g., LLMs, transformers).
• Strong software engineering skills using Python and machine learning software packages such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Hugging Face Transformers.
• Experience with MLOps tools and practices (e.g., MLflow, Kubeflow, Docker, CI/CD pipelines, model monitoring, and automated testing).
• Analytical mindset, curiosity, and a drive to produce excellent solutions.
• Understanding of practical, ethical, and privacy concerns surrounding AI and GenAI development, including responsible AI practices.
• Past experience of building productionized deep learning and/or GenAI models.
• Experience in designing, fine-tuning, and deploying models for tasks such as text extraction, summarization, question answering, or information retrieval.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English.

Tech you bring

• Mastery of Python and Python libraries for ML and GenAI (e.g., Scikit Learn, PyTorch, Hugging Face Transformers, LangChain).
• Experience with SQL or NoSQL databases.
• Familiarity with prompt engineering, model fine-tuning, and evaluation of GenAI models.
• Hands-on experience with MLOps tools and frameworks for model deployment, monitoring, and lifecycle management.
• Critical thinking capability.

Tech you'll learn

• Latest developments in applied ML, AI, and GenAI in customer-facing products.
• Best practices for building functional, compliant, and responsible ML, AI, and GenAI solutions.
• Advanced MLOps methodologies for scalable and reliable machine learning operations.

Meet your team

As Intelligent Spend and Business Network, we play a crucial role in addressing our customers' end-to-end procurement, travel and expense, and external workforce needs with visibility and agility across the entire supply chain. Our data science team is a small team with diverse backgrounds which will value your individual contribution as well as your ability to collaborate effectively with the rest of the team to develop powerful and effective ML/AI solutions.

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: 433606 | Work Area: Software-Design and Development | Expected Travel: 0 - 10% | Career Status: Professional | Employment Type: Regular Full Time | Additional Locations: #LI-Hybrid