Tech Lead & Staff Scientist (f/m/d) for Multimodal Foundation Models: Tabular Business Data

As Tech Lead  & Staff Scientist  (f/m/d) , you will play a leading role in defining, prototyping and iterating a composable, multi-modal architecture for foundation models, focusing on structured business data and collaborating closely with a Tech Lead for semi-structured data modalities. You will translate advances in structured-data modeling, tabular AI, Graph ML, and foundation models into new research directions, model architectures, and evaluation approaches. Working across multiple R&D teams, you will define the technical direction and guide its execution while making targeted hands-on contributions to critical prototypes and experiments.

This is the ideal role for a highly focused, ambitious individual with both, strong scientific and coordinating capabilities to grow in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, and your chance to become a key contributor to one of the very few leading foundation models of European origin.

The Role:

Take a leading role in establishing a new multimodal foundation model initiative, shaping its research agenda, technical direction and architecture with particular focus on the structured data modalities of business data such as tables, time series and graphs. and others

Identify high-potential research opportunities where SAP can deliver differentiated business value and translate them into a focused, evolving research and technical roadmap.

Aligning the work of AI scientists and engineers across research hypotheses, experiments, and architecture decisions.

Establish a high technical bar through architecture reviews, evaluation standards, and rigorous experimentation.

Make targeted hands-on contributions to validate key concepts, advance prototyping, and accelerate development.

Collaborate cross-functionally to inform value proposition and partnering ambitions

What you bring:

PhD or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or other relevant disciplines

Strong expertise in machine learning for structured data, foundation models or both, with a substantial publication record, including recent top-tier conferences or equivalent applied research experience.

Demonstrated hands-on experience in researching, prototyping, and advancing machine learning models for tables, time series, graphs, or relational data.

Proficiency in Python, and experience with ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or similar.

Proven history of exemplary leadership and strategic mindset, complemented by superior organizational abilities

Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain model architectures and their value to technical and business audiences.

Optional: Experience with multimodal foundation models, Graph ML, knowledge graphs, world models, distributed or federated learning, and enterprise data such as ERP or CRM.

Meet your team:

SAP's AI organization is dedicated to seamlessly infusing AI into all enterprise applications, enabling customers, partners, and developers to enhance business processes and generate remarkable business value. Join our international AI team where innovation thrives, opportunities for personal development abound, and exceptional colleagues collaborate globally.

#SAPBusinessAICareers

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Bring out your best

SAP innovations help more than four hundred thousand customers worldwide work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively. Originally known for leadership in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, SAP has evolved to become a market leader in end-to-end business application software and related services for database, analytics, intelligent technologies, and experience management. As a cloud company with two hundred million users and more than one hundred thousand employees worldwide, we are purpose-driven and future-focused, with a highly collaborative team ethic and commitment to personal development. Whether connecting global industries, people, or platforms, we help ensure every challenge gets the solution it deserves. At SAP, you can bring out your best.

We win with inclusion

SAP’s culture of inclusion, focus on health and well-being, and flexible working models help ensure that everyone – regardless of background – feels included and can run at their best. At SAP, we believe we are made stronger by the unique capabilities and qualities that each person brings to our company, and we invest in our employees to inspire confidence and help everyone realize their full potential. We ultimately believe in unleashing all talent and creating a better world.

SAP is committed to the values of Equal Employment Opportunity and provides accessibility accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with SAP and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please send an e-mail with your request to Recruiting Operations Team: .

For SAP employees: Only permanent roles are eligible for theSAP Employee Referral Program , according to the eligibility rules set in the SAP Referral Policy. Specific conditions may apply for roles in Vocational Training.

AI Usage in the Recruitment Process

For information on the responsible use of AI in our recruitment process, please refer to ourGuidelines for Ethical Usage of AI in the Recruiting Process .

Please note that any violation of these guidelines may result in disqualification from the hiring process.

Requisition ID: 455031  | Work Area: Software-Design and Development  | Expected Travel: 0 - 10%  | Career Status: Professional  | Employment Type: Regular Full Time   | Additional Locations:  #LI-Hybrid

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Source: Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), table; dl-de/by-2-0; StarIn's calculation