Forward Deployed Application / ML Principal Engineer

SAP

United States

Hybrid

USD 198,000 - 420,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Job summary

SAP is seeking a seasoned engineer to design, build, and operate AI-native, cloud-native enterprise applications. You will work directly with fast-moving teams, embedding AI into customer projects while shaping architectures for scalability, security, and reliability.

You bring 10+ years of software/enterprise SaaS experience, strong Python AI libraries expertise, and a proven ability to mentor teams and set guardrails for high-quality delivery. This is a hybrid role in the United States.

Qualifications

10+ years of hands-on experience in software and application engineering for cloud-native, enterprise, and SaaS environments.
Proven ability to design and deliver AI-native applications using LLMs, RAG architectures, vector databases, and agentic systems.
Strong proficiency in AI/ML Python libraries and data pipelines.
Experience integrating Agentic AI into complex business processes, ensuring responsible use.
Strong problem-solving and mentoring abilities, with leadership in high-impact environments.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and operate production-grade, cloud-native enterprise applications integrating AI capabilities.
Embed into customer projects and cross-functional teams to understand business processes and challenges.
Translate requirements into scalable architectures balancing speed, quality, and security.
Prototype and productionize solutions in customer environments with reusable assets.
Own delivery end-to-end from framing to deployment and operations.
Communicate solution approaches and trade-offs clearly with stakeholders.

Skills

AI/ML Python libraries

Cloud-native architecture

Enterprise SaaS

Mentoring teams

Cross-functional communication

Tools

SAP AI Core

Vectorization

Joule Studio

RPT-1

Business Data Cloud

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.

What you’ll build

In this role, you design, build, and operate AI-native enterprise applications that combine cloud-native software engineering with production-grade machine learning and agentic AI capabilities, embedded directly within customer environments and fast-moving delivery teams.

Design, develop, and operate production-grade, cloud-native enterprise applications integrating AI capabilities such as large language models, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and agent-based workflows.
Embed directly into customer projects and fast-moving cross-functional teams to rapidly understand business processes, technical landscapes, and operational challenges.
Translate business and product requirements into robust application architectures, balancing speed, quality, security, and long-term maintainability.
Rapidly prototype, iterate, and productionize solutions in customer environments, adapting reference architectures and reusable assets to real-world enterprise constraints.
Own application delivery end-to-end — from problem framing and prototyping through deployment, observability, and production operations.
Apply AI-assisted engineering practices, evaluation frameworks, and architectural guardrails to ensure compliant, trustworthy, and high-quality solutions.
Ensure delivery milestones, quality standards, and technical objectives are met, proactively managing risks and technical escalations within scope.
Act as a key technical interface to customers and internal stakeholders, clearly communicating solution approaches, trade-offs, and progress.
Contribute to engineering standards, best practices, and reusable components to improve efficiency and consistency across solutions.

What you bring

10+ years of hands‑on experience in software and application engineering for cloud-native, enterprise, and SaaS environments, with strong knowledge of architectural principles such as scalability, security, and reliability.
Proven ability to design and deliver AI-native applications, utilizing large language models, RAG architectures, vector databases, and agentic systems to innovate enterprise workflows.
Strong proficiency in widely used AI/ML Python libraries and frameworks, with exposure to data pipelines and MLOps practices.
Skilled in integrating Agentic AI into complex business processes, ensuring responsible and effective use of AI agents within enterprise operations.
Strong problem‑solving skills, critical thinking, and exposure to design thinking practices; proven ability to mentor teams and establish development guardrails and best practices.
Proven ability to mentor and inspire teams, establish best development guardrails and practices, and drive engineering culture across delivery teams.
Exposure to SAP AI technologies such as SAP AI Core, Vectorization, Joule Studio, RPT-1, and Business Data Cloud is a strong advantage.
Experience owning solutions across the full application lifecycle — from design and implementation to deployment and production operations.
Strong collaboration and communication skills to work effectively with cross‑functional teams and customer stakeholders on complex technical topics.
Learning mindset, technical leadership, and accountability in high‑impact, ambiguous environments; you proactively leverage AI in everyday workflows to ensure high‑quality outputs.

Where you belong

You will be part of a growing AI and industry expert team dedicated to serving customers across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. We are building a collaborative, high-impact environment that brings together deep AI expertise, strong industry knowledge, and regional understanding to help customers innovate, transform, and lead in their markets. This team thrives on turning complex business challenges into practical, scalable solutions. We value curiosity, ownership, and continuous learning — and encourage new ideas where real-world impact matters. You will thrive here if you are customer‑centric, motivated by meaningful outcomes, and comfortable navigating ambiguity in a fast‑evolving AI landscape.

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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: Careerssap.

Referral Program

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

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

Compensation Range Transparency: 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 annual combined range for this position is 198200-420000USD. The actual amount to be offered to the successful candidate will be within this range, dependent upon the key aspects of each case which may include education, skills, experience, scope of the role, location, etc. as determined through this 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.

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.

Employment Details