SAP

Forward Deployed Data and Applied Sciences (Chief) Expert

SAP$274K — $500K+*
Enterprise Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years in data science and applied AI roles
  • Proven leadership in managing complex, business-critical initiatives
  • Expertise in advanced analytics and machine learning techniques
  • Strong command of Python and SQL for data engineering
  • Hands-on experience with technologies like PySpark and Kafka
  • Recognition as a data thought leader externally and internally
  • Ability to mentor and guide teams in technical excellence

Responsibilities

  • Own and deliver complex data science and applied AI projects
  • Act as chief technical authority for analytics and machine learning
  • Design and oversee governance of advanced data models and algorithms
  • Translate strategic business challenges into analytical solutions
  • Partner with senior business leaders to influence data-driven decisions
  • Embed within customer teams to understand operational challenges
  • Mentor senior data scientists and foster innovation within the team
  • Lead customer-facing engagements to shape high-value AI initiatives

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work in a collaborative, high-impact environment
  • Access to continuous learning and professional growth
  • Flexibility to work in a hybrid setting
  • Engagement with strategic partnerships and customer relationships
  • Involvement in projects with real-world impact and innovation
  • Focus on building a customer-centric, outcome-oriented team culture
Full Job Description


What You9ll Build:

In this role, you define and lead complex, high impact data science and applied AI initiatives that translate business strategy into scalable analytical solutions while embedded directly within customer environments and fast-moving delivery teams. You combine cloud native software engineering, enterprise data engineering, and production grade AI capabilities to solve complex real world business problems at speed. Acting as a trusted technical authority and strategic advisor, you guide senior stakeholders and cross functional teams from problem framing through delivery and measurable value realization. Your work directly influences enterprise level decisions by applying advanced modeling, machine learning, and AI techniques to the most complex and business critical challenges across customer and internal contexts. You set direction, standards, and best practices for excellence in data and applied science.

You will:

  • Own the delivery of complex, multi-dimensional data science and applied AI programs aligned with business strategy and financial objectives.

  • Act as the chief technical authority for advanced analytics, machine learning, and applied AI across domains, setting standards for quality, rigor, and scalability.

  • Design, oversee, and govern advanced data models, algorithms, and ML/AI systems, ensuring enterprise-grade robustness and real-world impact.

  • Translate ambiguous, strategic business challenges into clear analytical approaches, success metrics, and decision frameworks.

  • Partner with senior business, product, and engineering leaders to influence strategy, roadmaps, and investment decisions through data-driven insights.

  • Embed directly into customer projects and fast moving cross functional teams to rapidly understand business processes, technical landscapes, and operational challenges.

  • Represent SAP externally as a recognized expert, building trusted relationships and strategic partnerships with customers and stakeholders.

  • Mentor and guide senior data scientists, fostering innovation, technical excellence, and professional growth across the community.

  • Lead strategic, customer-facing engagements by partnering with senior stakeholders to shape high-value AI and data science initiatives and drive the co-creation and delivery of enterprise-scale solutions with measurable business impact.


What You Bring:

  • You demonstrate a proactive approach to leveraging AI in everyday workflows, ensuring high-quality outputs through thoughtful context design and system integration.

  • Deep expertise in data science, applied statistics, and machine learning, with end-to-end ownership from problem framing through deployment and value measurement.

  • Proven ability to lead and govern complex, business-critical initiatives in high-ambiguity, high-impact environments.

  • Proven ability to work in an Agentic AI context, shaping and applying AI agents that act autonomously within defined boundaries, collaborate with human stakeholders, and deliver measurable business outcomes in customer-centric environments.


  • Strong command of modern analytics and ML technologies, including advanced modeling, large-scale data processing, and AI-driven approaches (e.g. NLP, generative AI).

  • Exceptional stakeholder communication and advisory skills, with the ability to influence and guide senior executives.

  • Recognition as a thought leader or 44go-to44 expert in data and applied science, both internally and externally.

  • Expertise in designing scalable end-to-end data pipelines and ETL/ELT architectures

  • Strong expertise in enterprise data modelling, orchestration, and system integration

  • Advanced proficiency in Python and SQL for large-scale data engineering

  • Hands-on experience with PySpark, Databricks, and distributed data processing

  • Expertise in workflow orchestration using Airflow and similar platforms

  • Strong experience with SAP HANA and enterprise-grade data platforms

  • Proficiency in lakehouse and columnar storage technologies such as Parquet and Delta Lake

  • Experience implementing real-time streaming architectures using Kafka or equivalent technologies

  • Strong focus on data quality, governance, compliance, and PII management

  • Expertise in applying CI/CD, Docker, and Git within modern data engineering workflows


Where You Belong:

You will be part of a growing AI and industry expert team dedicated to serving customers across the region (Americas, Europe, 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 working together to turn complex business challenges into practical, scalable solutions. You will find an environment that values curiosity, ownership, and continuous learning, where new ideas are encouraged and real-world impact matters. This is a place for people who enjoy building something new. You will thrive here if you are customer-centric, motivated by meaningful outcomes, and comfortable navigating ambiguity in a fast-evolving AI landscape.

We work closely with decision-makers, challenge assumptions with data, and give data scientists room to influence strategy-not just produce analysis. We value sharp thinking, business curiosity, and clear communication.

Requisition ID: 453806 | Work Area: Software-Design and Development | Expected Travel: 0 - 10% | Career Status: Executive | Employment Type: Regular Full Time | Additional Locations: #LI-Hybrid

Requisition ID: 453806

Posted Date: May 29, 2026

Work Area: Software-Design and Development

Career Status: Executive

Employment Type: Regular Full Time

Expected Travel: 0 - 10%

Location:

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at SAP

More Enterprise Technology Jobs

Find similar Forward Deployed Data and Applied Sciences (Chief) Expert jobs: