SAP Enterprise Architect

Our client is one of the first major global retail groups implementing SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition at this scale. In this unique pioneering role, you operate at eye level with SAP product development, actively influence architectural directions and position as a strategic reference customer in an international omnichannel retail environment.

You ensure that our client's SAP landscape - including embedded and side-by-side AI capabilities - is future-proof, upgrade-stable, performant and compliant within a highly complex enterprise system landscape.

The role:

SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition follows a strict, standard-oriented, cloud-native ERP paradigm with clearly defined public-cloud constraints. Within this framework, you are responsible for designing and evolving a scalable end-to-end SAP S/4HANA Retail architecture covering procurement, logistics, sales, finance and controlling while ensuring clean-core adherence.

Responsabilities:

Enterprise Architecture SAP S/4HANA Cloud Landscape

* Define and evolve the SAP target architecture for SAP S/4HANA Cloud
* Public Edition (SAP GROW) within a complex enterprise system landscape
* Establish and enforce architectural guardrails aligned with public-cloud restrictions, clean-core principles and long-term upgrade stability
* Evaluate SAP software releases, embedded AI capabilities and roadmap innovations and embed them into the target architecture
* Ensure architectural coherence between SAP core, side-by-side extensions and AI-enabled enterprise services

End-to-End Retail & Finance Architecture

* Design and evolve end-to-end SAP S/4HANA Retail processes covering sales, procurement, logistics, finance and controlling
* Own the architecture of key retail domains such as merchandise management, supply chain, store operations, customer experience and master data
* Drive omnichannel enablement across store and digital channels
* Ensure architectural readiness for international retail operations and high transaction volumes

AI & Intelligent ERP Enablement

* Architect the integration of embedded SAP AI capabilities (e.g. forecasting, automation, recommendations) into business processes
* Define architectural principles for AI-driven process automation within Retail and Finance Ensure clean separation between core ERP logic and AI-based decision services
* Collaborate closely with AI-native engineering teams to align other software applications with SAP architecture
* Govern data flows and integration patterns to enable reliable AI use cases across transactional and analytical systems
* Ensure compliance, explainability and governance standards for AI-enabled ERP processes

Integration Architecture

* Design integrations between SAP S/4HANA and SAP as well as non-SAP enterprise systems such as distributed order management, warehouse management, demand planning and POS systems
* Define scalable integration architectures aligned with ISA-M principles
* Establish API-first and event-driven integration patterns where appropriate
* Ensure loosely coupled, resilient and upgrade-stable integration across the retail ecosystem
* Align SAP architecture with enterprise-wide data, analytics and AI platforms

Non-Functional Architecture & Governance

* Define and govern non-functional standards covering performance, scalability, resilience, observability and security
* Ensure system stability under peak retail and seasonal loads
* Assure operational excellence and compliance of delivered solutions
* Provide architectural guidance across design, build, testing, deployment and hypercare phases
* Participate in architecture boards and ensure transparent and traceable decision-making

Side-by-Side Extensions & Enablement

* Architect and govern side-by-side extensions using SAP BTP and non-SAP technologies
* Ensure strict decoupling from the SAP core to maintain long-term upgradeability
* Mentor solution architects and project teams and promote clean-core best practices
* Act as trusted advisor to business stakeholders translating functional requirements into scalable technical architectures

Professional Requirements (Must Have)

* Several years of experience as SAP Architect, Enterprise Architect or Lead Consultant with strong exposure to SAP S/4HANA Cloud
* Proven Retail industry experience Strong experience designing complex enterprise system landscapes
* Strong understanding of SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition and public-cloud constraints
* Proven knowledge in SAP Finance, Merchandise Management, Supply Chain and Store Operations
* Deep understanding of retail processes such as category management, forecasting & replenishment, pricing and loyalty
* Strong expertise in modern integration architectures and API-based design English: very good to excellent

Certifications (Preferred)

* Enterprise Architecture certification (e.g. SAP EAM or TOGAF) Integration Architecture certification aligned with ISA-M

Nice to Have

* Experience with event-driven architectures in SAP environments
* Experience integrating AI capabilities into ERP or enterprise systems
* Experience with SAP BTP and cloud-based extension concepts
* Experience in international project environments German language skills beneficial