Senior Data Engineer

The client is seeking an experienced SAP Data Engineer capable of independently delivering and operationalizing solutions within:

• SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC)
• SAP Datasphere

The role combines:

• Platform administration
• Data product development
• Data integration
• Security and governance
• Operational handover
• Coaching and knowledge transfer

Typical Profile

• 5+ years of experience in SAP data platforms, data engineering, or related technical roles.
• Proven ability to independently design, build, and operationalize SAP-based data solutions.

Assignment Overview

Your primary mission is to establish and operationalize SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC) as a strategic data platform, including the design, development, and publication of SAP data products for enterprise analytics. The initial focus will be on the HR domain, with future expansion to other business areas.

You will be responsible for:

• Configuring and administering the SAP BDC platform.
• Connecting SAP source systems.
• Developing and publishing reusable SAP data products.
• Enabling data consumption by downstream platforms, particularly Snowflake.
• Establishing governance, operational processes, and support procedures.
• Transferring knowledge and ownership to the internal Data Engineering team.

As the internal team gains expertise, the role will gradually evolve from hands-on implementation toward coaching, advisory support, and operational guidance.

You will collaborate closely with a Data Analyst, who owns the functional analysis and business requirements, while you will lead the technical implementation within SAP BDC.

Assignment Duration & Allocation

Phase 1: Implementation

• Full-time commitment (100%).
• Focus on platform setup, data product development, integration, and operationalization.

Phase 2: Transition & Support

• Gradual reduction to approximately 50% capacity or less.
• Focus on:
  • Coaching and mentoring internal engineers.
  • Knowledge transfer.
  • Troubleshooting and support.
  • Operational guidance.
  • Ensuring sustainable self-sufficiency of the internal team.

Key Responsibilities

1. SAP BDC Platform Setup & Administration

• Configure and administer SAP Business Data Cloud according to enterprise architecture and security standards.
• Establish connectivity with relevant SAP source systems.
• Configure:
  • Roles
  • Permissions
  • Authorization models
  • Access controls
• Enable data sharing and integration with external platforms, especially Snowflake.
• Implement appropriate security and privacy measures for sensitive and personal data.

2. Data Product Development & Integration

• Design, build, and publish reusable SAP data products within SAP BDC and SAP Datasphere.
• Translate functional specifications into technical data models and data products.
• Develop data transformations and modelling logic within the SAP ecosystem.
• Leverage standard SAP data products where available and extend where necessary.
• Implement:
  • Data quality controls
  • Validation mechanisms
  • Reconciliation processes
• Ensure documentation, governance, and accessibility of published data products.
• Enable downstream consumption through SAP-native integration and data-sharing capabilities, including zero-copy approaches where applicable.

3. Operational Management

• Establish sustainable operating procedures for SAP BDC within the Data Engineering team.
• Configure:
  • Monitoring
  • Logging
  • Alerting
  • Operational controls
• Define incident, change, and problem management procedures.
• Produce operational documentation, runbooks, and administration guidelines.
• Create a clear ownership model for long-term platform management.

4. Knowledge Transfer & Coaching

• Actively involve internal data engineers throughout implementation activities.
• Deliver hands-on training on:
  • SAP BDC administration
  • Data product development
  • Platform operations
• Document:
  • Technical configurations
  • Architecture decisions
  • Integration patterns
  • Operational procedures
• Gradually transfer responsibilities to the internal team.
• Provide first-line technical support and guidance.
• Coach engineers toward independent ownership and continuous platform expansion.
• Ensure long-term reduction of dependency on external support.

5. Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work closely with:
  • Data Architect / Data Engineering Lead
  • Data Analyst
  • Internal Data Engineering team
  • Business stakeholders from corporate functions
• Contribute to alignment between business requirements and technical implementation.
• Adhere to established enterprise architecture principles, engineering standards, and delivery practices.

Required Skills & Experience

SAP Platforms

• Hands-on experience with:
  • SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC)
  • SAP Datasphere
• Platform administration and configuration.
• Security, access management, and governance.

Data Engineering

• SAP data product design, development, publishing, and consumption.
• SAP source system integration.
• Data modelling and transformations.
• Strong SQL expertise.

Integration & Architecture

• Data-sharing architectures between SAP platforms and external data environments.
• Integration with Snowflake.
• Knowledge of:
  • Zero-copy data sharing
  • Federated data access
  • SAP connectivity mechanisms
  • Data integration patterns

Operations & Governance

• Monitoring and operational support.
• Incident and troubleshooting processes.
• Data governance and authorization models.
• GDPR and privacy compliance awareness.

Soft Skills

• Ability to work independently and take ownership.
• Excellent documentation and communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving mindset.
• Experience coaching technical teams and enabling knowledge transfer.

Nice to Have

• Experience with SAP HR data domains.
• Knowledge of:
  • SAP SuccessFactors
  • SAP HCM
• Familiarity with:
  • SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC)
  • SAP analytics ecosystem and reporting landscape