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The Solution Architect focuses on designing business-driven, standards-based, and future-ready solutions within a specific solution context. In this role, you will design solutions that meet product requirements, business priorities, and enterprise standards while managing non-functional requirements (NFRs) and fitness functions. You will develop and maintain the product's technology roadmap, provide technical oversight to product teams, and evaluate new technologies to continuously improve existing solutions and manage technical debt.
Description of the area
Senior Solution Architect for ERP Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) with a focus on Technical Extensibility and Automation. Responsible for the strategic design and operational excellence of the "Requirements to Deploy" process. This role bridges the gap between high-level ALM frameworks and the underlying technical architecture. You will lead the design of custom extensions, workflows, and integrations within the SAP ALM ecosystem (Solution Manager and Cloud ALM), ensuring that the toolset is not just "out-of-the-box" but optimized through advanced development patterns to meet complex enterprise needs. You will provide the technical vision for how ABAP-based ALM tools evolve to support modern DevOps and agile delivery.
Job Responsibilities
Scope / (Content Leadership): Designs solutions that meet product requirements, business priorities, and enterprise standards within a specific Solution Context. Manages Non-Functional Requirements (NFR) and fitness functions. Documents and evolves the architecture throughout the product life cycle and aligns with the architecture community for governance.
Accountability/Problem Solving: Solves complex problems by taking a new perspective on existing solutions and exercising judgment based on the analysis of multiple information sources. Maintains the vision, roadmap, and current landscape for the solution. Assesses and consults on the impacts and dependencies of initiatives on capabilities, risk, and the application landscape. Creates Conceptual & Logical Data Models, Taxonomies, and Ontologies for the solution and its interfaces. Defines and drives reference architectures, patterns, and ensures Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) are appropriately recorded.
Stakeholder Management: Explains difficult or sensitive information clearly and actively works to build consensus among stakeholders. Drives information sharing and exchange about the solution.
Impact/Strategy: Develops and maintains the product's technology roadmap. Provides technical oversight, guidance, and consultation on specific technologies for product teams. Improves existing solutions, manages technical debt, and researches, evaluates, pilots, and drives the adoption of new technologies. Identifies opportunities to enhance value and business processes.
Complexity / (Product Size): Operates primarily within a defined Solution Context.
Business / Technical ability: Applies general and in-depth knowledge in one or two technology areas. Contributes minimally but effectively to Architecture Practices development and mentoring.
Qualifications
Deep Technical Mastery: Extensive experience (8+ years) in SAP development, including ABAP, Object-Oriented Programming (OOPS), Web Dynpro, and SAP CRM technical frameworks.
ALM Toolset Expert: Expert-level knowledge of SAP Solution Manager (Focused Build, ChaRM, Solution Documentation, Test Management, Project management), with a specific focus on Focused Build workflows and the ability to leverage Extension Capabilities (BAdIs, custom UI5/Web Dynpro enhancements, and workflow customization).
Architectural Design: Proven ability to design and implement complex technical solutions within the ALM domain, moving beyond functional configuration to deep technical architecture and system integration.
Vendor & Partner Orchestration: Demonstrated experience in driving and managing external partners and vendors, ensuring technical deliverables align with enterprise standards and strategic roadmaps.
Release Management: Deep expertise in ERP change management, hybrid environments on CTS, CTS+, cTMS, transport layers, conflict analysis, and downgrade protection.
Lifecycle Leadership: Proven track record of managing 2–3 full-scale ERP implementation or upgrade lifecycles in a global corporate setting with strong stakeholder management skills.
System Configuration: Extensive experience configuring and adapting SAP Solution Manager to meet complex business needs.
Process Standards: Strong background in ITIL / IT Service Management
Technical Writing & SOPs: Proven ability to draft high-quality Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and technical documentation that are clear, concise, and audit-ready.
English Communication: Superior command of the English language (both written and verbal) is essential for collaborating with global stakeholders and presenting complex ALM strategies to leadership.
Compliance & Governance
Expertise in Computerized System Validation (CSV) and ICFR (Internal Control over Financial Reporting).
Experience operating within the governance frameworks of a large, multinational enterprise.
A bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent
Preferred Qualifications (Nice to Have)
AI Innovation: Proficiency in leveraging Generative AI and LLMs to accelerate the development lifecycle (e.g., AI-assisted ABAP code generation, automated unit testing, and rapid prototyping of ALM extensions).
Process Mining: Hands-on experience with SAP Signavio or Celonis.
Transformation Strategy: Experience designing and executing migration strategies from SAP Solution Manager to SAP Cloud ALM.
Education / Experience
Demonstrated experience designing business-driven, standards-based, future-ready solutions within a specific solution context.
Experience maintaining the vision, roadmap, and current landscape for technical solutions, and assessing the impacts of initiatives on risk and application landscapes.
Technical Skills
General and in-depth knowledge in one or two technology areas.
Proficiency in creating Conceptual & Logical Data Models, Taxonomies, and Ontologies for solutions and interfaces.
Ability to define and drive reference architectures, patterns, NFRs, and fitness functions.
Strong capability to drive external technology trends and assess feasibility for the solution, including conducting vendor assessments.
Additional Qualifications
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain difficult or sensitive information and successfully build consensus.
Proactive mindset to identify opportunities to enhance value and business processes, improve existing solutions, and manage technical debt.
A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.
Let’s build a healthier future, together.
Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.