Principal Infrastructure & Release Lead (m/w/d)

 As Principal SAP Infrastructure & Release Lead, you are responsible for the group-wide infrastructure, deployment and release governance of the Implico Group. 

 
You ensure that our product architectures are not only conceptually sound, but can also be delivered in a scalable, stable, and cost-efficient manner. You build the structural foundations for professional CI/CD processes, modern cloud infrastructures, and a controlled release organization. 

Your Responsibilities 

• SAP Release Management

End-to-end release cycle governance using SAP ChaRM or SAP Cloud ALM across Private Cloud, Public Cloud, and SAP BTP landscapes 
Transport governance and landscape management across development, quality, and production environments 
Definition and ownership of quality gates, release readiness criteria, and environment strategies 
Cutover planning, go-live coordination, and post-release stabilization in close collaboration with Engineering and Architecture teams 
Group-wide standardization of release processes and governance frameworks aligned to the SAP release framework and Clean Core principles 

• CI/CD & Deployment Governance in a Hybrid Model

Definition and introduction of group-wide CI/CD standards 
Design and further development of deployment architectures (SAP Private Cloud, Public Cloud, SAP BTP) and Clean-Core compliance 

• Cloud Infrastructure & Scalability

Building scalable cloud infrastructures across all product lines 
Definition of monitoring, observability, and security standards in the delivery process 
Ensuring technical delivery capability in close coordination with Technical Architects 

• Cost & Platform Responsibility

Active cloud cost management and transparency over infrastructure costs 
Establishing cost-conscious architecture and deployment principles 
Member of the Architecture Board with responsibility for the overall cost and delivery perspective 

• Building the Platform Engineering Team

Contribute to the conception and progressive establishment of a scalable Platform Engineering structure 
Support the technical development and growth of DevOps capabilities within the Engineering organization 

Organizational Classification 

• Group-wide responsibility across all product lines 
• Principal-Level role 
• Member of the Architecture Board 
• Close collaboration with CTO, Enterprise Architects, Technical Architects and Director AI Engineering

Required 

• Proven hands-on experience in SAP Release Management — including end-to-end release cycle ownership, ChaRM or SAP Cloud ALM governance, transport management, and environment strategy 
• Experience building and operating modern cloud infrastructures within a SAP hybrid landscape (Private Cloud, Public Cloud, SAP BTP) 
• Solid understanding of CI/CD principles and deployment governance within a SAP environment 
• Strong understanding of cloud cost models and infrastructure optimization 
• Experience in standardizing and governing technical release processes at scale 
• High technical credibility and a structured, assertive working style 
Preferred 
• Experience with containerization and scalable deployment architectures (e.g. Docker, Kubernetes) 
• Background in building or growing a DevOps or Platform Engineering team 
• Familiarity with SAP Cloud ALM or successor tooling for release and operations management 
• Experience with CI/CD toolchains such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or ArgoCD 

 

Why This Role Matters 

You create the foundation for scalable product development without linear cost growth. Through stable releases, professional deployment structures, and active cost management, you sustainably improve the predictability, efficiency, and margin quality of the Implico Group.