We help the world run better
At SAP, we enable you to bring out your best. Our company culture is focused on collaboration and a shared passion to help the world run better. How? We focus every day on building the foundation for tomorrow and creating a workplace that embraces differences, values flexibility, and is aligned to our purpose-driven and future-focused work. We offer a highly collaborative, caring team environment with a strong focus on learning and development, recognition for your individual contributions, and a variety of benefit options for you to choose from.
As a Head of Architecture (m/f/d), you will be responsible for leading and managing a high-performing team of architects, driving the technical and architectural vision and strategy for SAP’s portfolio considering future innovations and technology trends that have significant impact on SAP’s future architecture across the solution portfolio. This role also defines and guides SAP’s Northstar Architecture. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to define and implement architectural solutions that align with SAP’s business objectives considering our AI-first and Suite-first product strategy, driving innovation and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, scalable solutions. Your leadership will empower the team to adopt best practices, solve complex technical challenges, and deliver transformative services for our customers.
We are looking for a leader (m/f/d) with a strong technical background, excellent communication skills, and a proven track record in architecting and delivering complex distributed systems. As the Head of Architecture, you will report into the Office of the CTO and will work closely with the Chief Technology Officer and Head of PE Cross Architecture. Leading SAP’s global CTO Circle, you will provide direction to SAP’s architecture community and foster an environment of growth, innovation, and excellence.
What you'll do
1. Lead and manage a team of Development Architects, guiding the architectural direction for our AI-first, Suite-first portfolio to meet both business goals and technical requirements at scale.
2. Drive strategic innovation by leading the adoption of emerging technologies, staying ahead of industry trends to ensure SAP’s solutions remain at the cutting edge of the market.
3. Define, drive, execute, and communicate the architectural strategy to senior leadership and key stakeholders across multiple departments, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives.
4. Collaborate with C-suite executives, business leaders, and stakeholders to define and align strategic business goals, ensuring architecture decisions support overall corporate strategies.
5. Mentor and guide architects and engineers, fostering professional development and growth within the team, while ensuring that technical solutions align with both business and technical objectives.
6. Influence and guide major architectural decisions, focusing on scalability, availability, and high-performance cloud solutions that drive business transformation across industries.
7. Ensure architectural best practices are consistently followed, with an emphasis on performance, scalability, and security improvements across services and solutions.
8. Evaluate risks, conduct technical assessments, and lead decision-making processes for complex technical challenges, driving actionable solutions to ensure business continuity and product excellence.
What you bring
9. 15+ years of professional experience in software development, AI, and architecture, with extensive hands-on experience in enterprise-scale solutions.
10. Proven track record of leading and managing large, distributed teams of senior architects, engineers, and technical leaders across multiple regions.
11. Expertise in multiple programming languages and environments such as Java, Javascript, Python, Go, and related modern technologies.
12. Advanced knowledge of software architecture and cloud infrastructures (AWS, Azure, GCP) with a strong focus on scalability and performance optimization
13. Deep proficiency in container technologies, Kubernetes (including Gardener), microservices, and network technology
14. Exceptional strategic decision-making abilities with experience balancing business priorities with technical execution.
15. Ability to drive executive communications, ensuring complex architectural decisions are clearly communicated across the organization, both internally and externally.
16. Demonstrated ability to influence business outcomes, working alongside senior leaders to ensure that architecture directly supports business transformation goals.
17. Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with a history of driving cross-functional alignment and addressing complex challenges at an enterprise scale.
18. Thought leadership in the technology community, with contributions to publications, conferences, and events that demonstrate authority in the field.