SAP EWM Primary Architect | Enterprise Distribution Technology

Blue Signal Search; United States; Remote; USD 200,000 - 235,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Signal Search seeks an SAP EWM Primary Architect to lead the next chapter of enterprise distribution technology. The role focuses on shaping technology behind new distribution centers, increased warehouse automation, and partnerships, with high visibility and direct interaction with senior leadership.

You will define target architectures, evaluate capabilities, and drive transition roadmaps in a large North American distribution environment. Chicago or remote with travel are expected.

Qualifications

• Deep SAP EWM expertise and understanding of distribution-center processes.
• Ability to identify multiple viable architectural approaches and defend a recommendation.
• Strong technical leadership to influence senior business and technology stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary architect for SAP EWM and its role within the broader distribution-center technology ecosystem.
• Define target-state architectures and transition roadmaps for enterprise distribution technology.
• Evaluate where capabilities should live: standard SAP EWM, SAP extensions/BTP, commercial platforms, or custom services.
• Challenge requirements when standard SAP capabilities or better architectural approaches exist.
• Lead architectural trade-off discussions around scalability, integration, resilience, and cost.
• Architect interaction between EWM and surrounding technologies (WES/WCS, automation, robotics, analytics).
• Guide integration strategies across APIs, middleware, and event-driven patterns.
• Lead design workshops and provide architectural direction to engineering and delivery teams.

Skills

SAP EWM

Architectural thinking

Stakeholder influence

End-to-end thinking

Job description

SAP EWM Primary Architect | Enterprise Distribution Technology

Location: Chicago preferred; open to remote candidates with travel as needed (10–20%)

Compensation: $200K–$235K base + 20% annual bonus + equity. Additional flexibility may be available for exceptional candidates.

This is not an SAP EWM implementation role.

We’re looking for the primary architect for SAP EWM and distribution-center technology within one of North America’s largest distribution environments.

The organization has largely completed its move to S/4HANA EWM. The next chapter isn’t another implementation—it’s determining what comes next.

This architect will help shape the technology behind major new distribution centers, increased warehouse automation, emerging technology partnerships, and the next evolution of inbound and outbound operations.

The role requires someone who has mastered SAP EWM but has progressed beyond implementing established designs. You’ll be expected to evaluate alternatives, challenge requirements, determine where capabilities should live, and provide clear architectural direction across SAP and the broader distribution environment.

What You’ll Work On

The architecture agenda includes initiatives such as:

• Rethinking inbound processes end-to-end, from purchase order through receiving and putaway.
• Architecting the intersection between SAP EWM and new warehouse automation technologies.
• Supporting the technology architecture behind major new automated distribution facilities.
• Determining how SAP capabilities, APIs, events, commercial platforms, extensions, and custom solutions should work together.
• Evolving outbound order prioritization and delivery-promise capabilities.
• Defining target-state architecture and practical transition roadmaps as the distribution network continues to evolve.

This is a highly visible, independent architecture role. You’ll work directly with technology and Supply Chain leadership, including VP and Director-level stakeholders, with periodic CIO exposure.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as the primary architect for SAP EWM and its role within the broader distribution-center technology ecosystem.
• Define target-state architectures and transition roadmaps for enterprise distribution technology.
• Evaluate business requirements and determine whether capabilities should live within standard SAP EWM, SAP extensions/BTP, commercial platforms, or custom services.
• Challenge requirements when standard SAP capabilities or a different architectural approach would produce a better long-term outcome.
• Lead architectural trade-off discussions, weighing scalability, maintainability, integration complexity, resilience, operational impact, cost, and long-term strategy.
• Architect the interaction between EWM and surrounding technologies, including WES/WCS, yard and transportation systems, automation, robotics integrations, analytics, and emerging technologies.
• Guide integration strategy across APIs, middleware, event-driven patterns, and enterprise applications.
• Lead design workshops and provide architectural direction to engineering and delivery teams.
• Translate complex architecture decisions into clear recommendations for senior business and technology leaders.

What We’re Looking For

• Deep SAP EWM expertise with strong functional understanding of distribution-center processes; S/4HANA EWM experience strongly preferred.
• Enough EWM depth to understand what SAP can accomplish out of the box, where customization introduces unnecessary complexity, and when requirements should be challenged.
• True architectural thinking: the ability to identify multiple viable approaches, evaluate their pros, cons and downstream implications, and defend a recommendation.
• Experience making capability-placement decisions—what belongs in standard SAP, what should be extended, and when another platform or architectural approach makes more sense.
• Experience defining target-state architectures, transition strategies, and technology roadmaps.
• Ability to think end‑to‑end about how SAP architecture decisions affect distribution‑center operations and surrounding technology.
• Working knowledge of modern integration architecture, including APIs, middleware, and event‑driven patterns.
• Ability to understand system boundaries and integration requirements across warehouse automation and operational technologies. Deep robotics, controls, OT, or networking expertise is not required.
• Strong technical leadership and the ability to independently influence senior business and technology stakeholders.
• Evidence of continuous learning as SAP, distribution technology, and modern architecture practices evolve.

Helpful, But Not Required

• SAP BTP experience and understanding of Clean Core concepts.
• Experience with WES/WCS and other technologies surrounding SAP EWM.
• Multi‑site WMS transformations, migrations, phased deployments, cutover planning, or operational readiness.
• Experience evaluating or developing AI proof‑of‑concepts within SAP, supply chain, or distribution technology environments.
• Broader experience with custom applications, cloud‑native services, or modern event‑driven architectures.

This Role May Be a Strong Fit If You’ve Progressed From

• Principal SAP EWM Architect
• Supply Chain Solutions Architect with deep SAP EWM ownership
• Distribution Center Technology Architect with substantial SAP EWM experience

You may currently hold a Principal Architect or similarly senior title. What matters more than title is whether you want to be the primary architect responsible for shaping this technology space within a complex enterprise distribution environment.

This Role Is Probably Not a Fit If

• Your experience is primarily SAP EWM configuration and implementation without broader architecture ownership.
• You’ve spent most of your career implementing established SAP designs rather than evaluating alternatives and making architectural decisions yourself.
• You’ve managed SAP programs but haven’t personally designed EWM or distribution technology architecture.
• Your architecture background is primarily enterprise/cloud architecture without deep SAP EWM and distribution‑center expertise.
• Your warehouse technology experience centers on non‑SAP WMS platforms without meaningful SAP EWM depth.
• You primarily execute architecture or solution designs defined by others rather than owning the decisions, trade‑offs, and recommendations yourself.

If you’ve already mastered SAP EWM and are ready to be the architect determining how the next generation of enterprise distribution technology should evolve, we’d like to hear from you.