Principal Data Scientist/ AI Application Development Expert

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. 

What You Build

• Lead architecture and delivery of enterprise‑grade AI/ML and Generative AI solutions, including LLM‑powered applications, intelligent assistants, and AI copilots.
• Define the enterprise AI/GenAI strategy aligned to business transformation, and evaluate emerging foundation models, frameworks, and technologies.
• Design and implement scalable LLM applications and agentic systems using commercial and open‑source models; integrate vector databases, semantic search, prompt orchestration, tool/function calling, memory, and context‑aware reasoning.
• Build robust RAG pipelines and knowledge retrieval systems; optimize prompts, inference, and evaluation frameworks; drive fine‑tuning, alignment, and model optimization.
• Establish LLMOps practices for deployment, monitoring, observability, governance, and guardrails.
• Architect end‑to‑end AI platforms: data ingestion/processing, training/inference, orchestration frameworks, vector stores/embeddings, MLOps/LLMOps, Responsible AI, security, and compliance—across AWS, Azure, GCP, SAP BTP, and hybrid.
• Lead research and incubation: publish white papers, file patents, build PoCs/accelerators/reusable frameworks, and collaborate with academia, labs, startups, and cross‑functional R&D teams.
• Drive stakeholder alignment and technical governance; mentor data scientists, ML engineers, prompt engineers, and solution architects; partner with product, research, and business teams.

What You Bring

• 14+ years in Data Science, AI/ML, Generative AI, and Enterprise Architecture with a track record delivering production‑grade LLM solutions.
• Degree in Computer Science, AI, Data Science, Engineering, or related field; PhD preferred for research‑intensive profiles.

Technical expertise:

• AI/ML: Deep learning, LLMs, Generative AI/foundation models, NLP/conversational AI, predictive analytics, recommendation systems; reinforcement learning (preferred).
• LLM & GenAI: Prompt engineering/optimization, RAG, AI agents/multi‑agent systems, embeddings/semantic search, fine‑tuning/adaptation, model evaluation/guardrails, LLMOps and observability.
• Frameworks & Tools: LangChain, LlamaIndex, Semantic Kernel, Hugging Face, OpenAI APIs; vector databases (Pinecone, Weaviate, ChromaDB, FAISS); TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit‑learn.
• Architecture & Platforms: Enterprise/solution architecture, distributed systems, microservices/APIs, cloud AI (AWS, Azure, GCP, SAP BTP), Kubernetes/Docker, CI/CD for AI.
• Programming & Data: Python, SQL, R; Spark/Databricks; data engineering and big‑data ecosystems.

Preferred:

• Publications, patents, open‑source contributions, innovation/incubator or R&D experience.
• Hands‑on in GenAI transformation, enterprise search, copilots, or autonomous agents.
• Strong understanding of Responsible AI, governance, and AI security.

Core strengths:

• Strategic, innovation‑driven mindset; excellent problem‑solving.
• Clear communication and executive‑level storytelling.
• Influence across senior leadership and customers; commitment to continuous learning.

Success measures:

• Scalable AI/LLM solutions in production with measurable business impact.
• Innovation outcomes (adoption, reusability), research/patent contributions.
• Platform maturity: governance, reliability, cost/perf efficiency.
• Team capability growth and mentorship outcomes.

Where You Belong

Join SAP’s PCP Cross Technology and Architecture unit—part of Private Cloud Products—driving technologies that empower innovation in business and for people.

• Be part of a dynamic, mission‑driven team using AI to enable seamless interactions between individuals and information.
• Work in a collaborative, learning‑oriented culture that values diverse perspectives and encourages experimentation.
• Thrive in a global, inclusive environment with opportunities to partner across regions and disciplines.

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: [email protected].

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: 446334  | Work Area: Software-Design and Development  | Expected Travel: 0 - 10%  | Career Status: Professional  | Employment Type: Regular Full Time   | Additional Locations:  #LI-Hybrid