The SAP Solution Architect will serve as the enterprise owner for SAP solution design across Crane - Panametrics, Druck and Reuter-Stokes businesses, ensuring a cohesive architecture spanning SAP S/4HANA, SAP BTP (Business Technology Platform), SAP Analytics/BW/4HANA, SAP EWM, SAP TM, SAP Ariba, and other adjacent platforms. This leader will define end-to-end business process architectures, govern solution standards, and guide delivery teams through SAP Architecture and Crane’s structured tollgate (stage-gate) process—balancing innovation, fit-to-standard adoption, security, and total cost of ownership. The role will partner closely with business leaders, product owners, and system integrators to deliver scalable, integrated solutions that enable profitable growth, operational excellence, and data-driven decision making.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own the SAP enterprise architecture: Define target architecture, reference models, and integration patterns across SAP and non-SAP systems (e.g., MES, PLM, WMS, CRM).
- Lead solution design for major programs: Greenfield/upgrade to S/4HANA, carve-outs/carve-ins, M&A integrations, and global template rollouts using SAP Activate and Crane tollgate governance.
- Process ownership & fit-to-standard: Facilitate end-to-end design across Order-to-Cash, Plan-to-Produce, Source-to-Pay, Record-to-Report, Warehouse/Transportation, and Service/Aftermarket.
- Integration strategy: Architect robust integrations using SAP Integration Suite (CPI)/SAP PO, APIs/events, and data services; ensure master data harmonization and semantic consistency.
- Data & analytics: Govern data models (MDM/MDG), data migration, and analytics architecture (BW/4HANA, SAP Datasphere/BI), enabling KPI transparency and digital performance management.
- Security & compliance: Define role-based access, SoD controls, audit readiness, and regulatory compliance (SOX; export controls incl. ITAR/DFARS/CMMC; GDPR/UK MOD as applicable).
- Quality & lifecycle management: Establish standards for configuration management, testing (CRP, UAT), performance, and change control leveraging Solution Manager/Focused Build and DevOps practices.
- Vendor & SI governance: Select, onboard, and manage system integrators and specialized partners; enforce architectural guardrails and delivery quality.
- Road mapping & TCO: Create multi-year product roadmaps, assess innovations (BTP services, AI/ML, RPA), and guide investment decisions with clear cost/benefit analyses.
- Stakeholder engagement: Translate business strategies into solution blueprints; present options, trade-offs, and risks to senior leadership; enable change management and adoption.
- Operational readiness: Partner with IT operations for cutover, hyper-care, and steady-state support; define SLAs and reliability benchmarks for critical processes.
- Continuous improvement: Capture lessons learned, update the SAP architecture playbook, and drive reuse of templates, accelerators, and standards across business units.
- Visual management: Architect dashboards (e.g., Power BI/SAP Analytics Cloud) to track program KPIs, architectural debt, value realization, and risk posture.
- Financial discipline: Provide visibility to program/project costs; set up controls to optimize spend and ensure value delivery.
Essential Qualifications / Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
- 8+ years designing and delivering SAP solutions in complex, global manufacturing environments.
- Hands-on architecture experience with SAP S/4HANA (at least one end-to-end deployment or major transformation), plus depth in two or more areas: MM/PP, SD, FI/CO, EWM/TM, Ariba, BW/4HANA/Analytics, MDG, BTP/Integration Suite.
- Proven track record governing enterprise integrations between SAP and non-SAP systems (MES/PLM/WMS/CRM), including API/event-driven architectures.
- Demonstrated expertise in SAP Activate and mixed Agile/Waterfall delivery models; comfortable leading fit-to-standard design and guiding build teams.
- Strong knowledge of security & controls (SoD, audit, SOX)
- Experience managing cross-functional global teams and third-party vendors/system integrators.
- Excellent communication and executive-level presentation skills; ability to simplify complex topics and influence decision-making.
Desirable Qualifications / Experience
- Advanced degree (MBA/MS) in Information Systems, Engineering, or related field.
- Relevant SAP certifications (e.g., SAP S/4HANA Solution Architect, SAP Certified Application Associate specialties, SAP Integration Suite).
- Experience with M&A integrations (carve-out/carve-in), ERP migrations, and template rollouts across multiple regions.
- Knowledge of data privacy/compliance (GDPR, ITAR, DFARS, CMMC, UK MOD).
- Familiarity with ITIL, Lean/CI, and DevOps practices; proficiency with Solution Manager/Focused Build, Jira/Azure DevOps, Power BI/SAP Analytics Cloud, MS Project, Visio, and collaboration tools.
Key Expectations from the Business
- Executive-ready communication; ability to frame architectural choices with business value, risk, and TCO.
- Matrix leadership—able to influence without direct authority and drive consensus across business and IT.
- Strong collaboration, transparency, and accountability; creates an environment where teams deliver results and continuously improve.
- Willingness to travel domestically/internationally to Crane - Panametrics, Druck and Reuter-Stokes (up to 25% at peak times).
Key Working Relationships
- Partner with Crane – Panametrics, Druck and Reuter-Stokes Leadership Team, middle management, and IT teams (Enterprise Architecture, Applications, Data/Analytics, Security).
- Collaborate with functional business leaders (Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Sales/Service) to adopt best practices and enable process excellence.
- Engage with external vendors, system integrators, and acquired company stakeholders to deliver integration success and sustainment.