Data Scientist (multiple positions available)

SAP SE; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 175,000 - 206,000; Full time

Job summary

SAP SE is seeking a Data Scientist at our Palo Alto, CA location to develop and optimize ML models and research AI solutions. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate business problems into ML workflows and deliver scalable, explainable AI systems.

Applicants should have advanced degrees in CS/Engineering and hands-on experience with knowledge graphs, graph-based ML, and RAG pipelines. This hybrid role emphasizes strong communication and problem solving in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field of study and five (5) years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in the job offered or related occupation.
• Alternatively, a Master’s degree or foreign equivalent in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field of study and three (3) years of experience in the job offered or related occupation.

Responsibilities

• Support machine learning research/project and development teams with all aspects around AI algorithms.
• Design and implement novel machine learning algorithms to process real data.
• Apply recent research breakthroughs to real problems to create business value.
• Ensure explainability and ethical integrity of AI algorithms.
• Communicate the relevance of implemented systems and achieved results in a visual and consistent way.

Skills

Knowledge graphs

Graph ML models

LLM fine-tuning

AI research & publishing

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering or related field

Tools

Azure ML

Databricks

Job description

Company 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.

Job Description

Original Posting Date: 10/19/26

Job Title: Data Scientist (multiple positions available)

Location: 3410 Hillview Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304

Work Model: Hybrid work model

Purpose and Objective

SAP Labs, LLC seeks a Data Scientist (multiple positions available) at our Palo Alto, CA location responsible for the development of new Machine Learning models and optimization of existing ML models.

Expectations and Tasks

Support machine learning research/project and development teams with all aspects around AI algorithms. Design and implement novel machine learning algorithms to process real data. Apply recent research breakthroughs to real problems to create business value. Ensure explainability and ethical integrity of AI algorithms. Positions ideas of how to push the frontiers of what is possible in the area of machine learning working with real data. Explores, understands, and implements the most recent machine learning algorithms and approaches. Ensures performance and system scalability through continuous collaboration with development teams. Understands business problems from beginning to end; knows research insights. Supports collecting requirements and coordinating the machine learning development. Communicates the relevance of implemented systems and achieved results in a visual and consistent way. Shows initiative and explores new use cases and applications of machine learning.

Qualifications

Education and Occupational Experience:

Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field of study and five (5) years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in the job offered or related occupation. Alternatively, a Master’s degree or foreign equivalent in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field of study and three (3) years of experience in the job offered or related occupation.

Qualifications/Skills and Competencies Experience:

Experience must include two (2) years involving each of the following:

• Heterogeneous knowledge graphs for machine learning use cases;


• Developing graph-based ML models such as GraphSAGE, GAT, or Graph Transformers;


• Cloud-based ML development platforms like Azure ML and Databricks;


• Experience fine-tuning large language models (LLMs) as part of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines; and


• AI/ML research, including experience publishing papers.

Experience must include one (1) year involving each of the following:

• Legacy supervised learning models, including development and deployment using methods like XGBoost; and


• Exposure to multi-agent orchestration frameworks and workflows.

Travel: N/A.

This position is eligible for the Employee Referral Program subject to the eligibility criteria outlined in the SAP Internal Employee Referral Policy.

Compensation Range Transparency

The annual base salary range for this position is $174,783 - $206,460. SAP believes the value of pay transparency contributes towards an honest and supportive culture and is a significant step towards demonstrating SAP’s commitment to pay equity. SAP provides the annualized compensation range inclusive of base salary and variable incentive target for the career level applicable to the posted role. The targeted combined range for this position is $174,783 - $229,400. The actual amount to be offered to the successful candidate will be within that range, dependent upon the key aspects of each case which may include education, skills, experience, scope of the role, location, etc. as determined through the selection process. Any SAP variable incentive includes a targeted dollar amount and any actual payout amount is dependent on company and personal performance. Please reference this link for a summary of SAP benefits and eligibility requirements: SAP North America Benefits.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

About SAP

With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improves people’s lives.

As a leader in enterprise applications and business AI, SAP stands at the nexus of business and technology. For over 50 years, organizations have trusted SAP to bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience.

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: [e-mail].

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, age, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, et al), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or disability.

Compensation Range Transparency

SAP believes pay transparency is essential to fostering an honest, supportive, and inclusive culture and is an important part of our commitment to pay equity. The salary range for this position is included in the job posting. The actual compensation offered to the successful candidate will fall within that range and will depend on factors such as education, skills, experience, location, and scope of the role, as determined through the selection process. Where applicable, SAP may also provide variable incentive opportunities and additional benefits, subject to the terms of the relevant plans and policies. Any variable incentive amount is target-based, with actual payouts dependent on company and individual performance. Please reference this link for a summary of SAP benefits and eligibility requirements: SAP North America Benefits.

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.