SAP Principal Solution Architect - Defence

Introduction

We are seeking a highly experienced SAP S/4

HANA Principal Solution Architect with expertise in Defence and Aerospace industry processes. This role will lead the end‑to‑end solution architecture across manufacturing, supply chain, MRO, finance, and compliance domains, ensuring that the SAP landscape meets the stringent needs of the defence sector. The architect will act as a strategic advisor to client executives, drive SAP S/4 roadmap definition, oversee solution integrity, and ensure defence regulatory compliance.

• Own the overall SAP S/4
  
  HANA solution blueprint for defence manufacturing and sustainment programs.
• Define end‑to‑end architecture covering manufacturing (PP, PP/DS), supply chain (MM, EWM), asset management (EAM/MRO), finance (FI/CO), quality (QM), and project systems (PS).
• Ensure architecture aligns with defence compliance requirements (ITAR, EAR, NATO codification, export control, cybersecurity).
• Drive integration with PLM, MES, CAD, defence logistics systems, and secure data environments.
• Establish governance and design authority to manage solution consistency across work streams.
• Define and communicate the long‑term SAP solution roadmap, aligning it with overall enterprise architecture and business objectives (e.g., S/4
  
  HANA roadmap, cloud strategy, integration strategy).
• Provide strategic thought leadership on leveraging SAP technologies (e.g., S/4
  
  HANA, BTP, Cloud solutions, intelligent technologies like AI/ML) to achieve business outcomes.
• Research and evaluate new SAP products, functionalities, and industry trends to identify opportunities for innovation and competitive advantage.
• Lead the end‑to‑end architectural design for complex SAP implementations, upgrades, and transformations, ensuring solutions are fit‑for‑purpose, scalable, secure, and maintainable.
• Develop detailed solution blueprints, architectural diagrams, and technical specifications, translating complex business requirements into clear technical designs.
• Establish and enforce architectural standards, guidelines, and best practices for SAP solution development and deployment.
• Conduct architectural reviews and provide governance to ensure adherence to architectural principles throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee the integration strategy for SAP solutions with other enterprise applications, third‑party systems, and data sources.
• Act as the primary SAP subject‑matter expert and trusted advisor to C‑level executives, business leaders, and project teams.
• Partner with business stakeholders to understand their challenges, define requirements, and propose innovative SAP‑centric solutions that deliver tangible business value.
• Facilitate workshops, conduct architectural assessments, and provide recommendations on complex SAP design and technical issues.
• Support pre‑sales activities, including solutioning, effort estimation, and presenting architectural visions to potential clients/internal stakeholders.
• Provide thought leadership on SAP best practices for Engineer‑to‑Order (ETO), complex manufacturing, depot‑level MRO, and sustainment.
• Oversee functional and technical design decisions across multiple modules and partner teams.
• Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance to multiple project teams, solution architects, functional consultants, and developers.
• Mentor junior architects and team members, fostering their growth and ensuring adherence to architectural best practices.
• Drive knowledge sharing and continuous improvement within the SAP architecture community.
• Identify and mitigate architectural risks, technical debt, and potential scalability issues.
• Ensure solutions meet non‑functional requirements (performance, security, usability, reliability).
• Champion a “clean core” approach and drive adoption of SAP Best Practices.

The SAP Principal Solution Architect is a highly experienced and strategic leader responsible for designing robust, scalable, and innovative SAP solutions that align with the organization's business strategy and enterprise architecture principles. This role involves deep dives into complex business requirements, translating them into…