IS Specialist (SAP Variant Configuration Solution Lead)

Career Area:
Technology, Digital and Data
Job Description:
Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.
When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.
About Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives.For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.
Your Impact Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc
When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced IS Specialist (SAP Variant Configuration Solution Lead) to join our
ERP Functional team - CAT IT Division.
The preference for this role is to be based out of Bangalore – Caterpillar PSN
This position requires candidate to work a 5-day -a -week schedule.
Shift Timing: 01:00-10:00PM IST
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Primary responsibility will be in Variant Configuration functional area
Project management and deployment oversight
Work directly with Manufacturing Engineering and Manufacturing Operations to ensure system readiness
Solution Governance / Deployment
Ensuring solution design is consistent with defined EA and/or P2P application roadmaps
Ensuring solution design accounts for and is consistent with P2P lifecycle management
Performing validation and sign-off of 3rd Party deliverables (i.e. coding, testing, documentation)
Design
Gathering business requirements
Documenting functional / technical specifications for solution development
Documenting master data requirements for solution development, testing, and execution
Documenting test scenarios for solution validation (i.e. unit, string, integration, and UAT)
Representing solution design in integrated design reviews prior to development hand-off
Level 4 Support
Providing process / deep technical support to facilitate resolution of production incidents
Ensuring change requests are appropriate and consistent with application roadmaps
Communication
Working with Caterpillar partners, Caterpillar IT peers, and 3rd Party providers
Providing weekly updates regarding status, risk, issues to BU and Caterpillar IT leadership
Optimization
Identify and train facilities to utilize template solutions
BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE:
Requires a relevant degree, technical certification, or equivalent experience. The incumbent should be knowledgeable of current SAP architecture as well as SAP’s technical direction and long-term roadmaps. Six to ten years in ERP related development, ERP deployment and / or SAP functional related work is preferable.
Required Skills
Bachelor's degree in IT or other technology related degree
5-7 years of IT experience, along with 5-7 years of ERP related experience (can be concurrent) and SAP VC
1-2 years of experience with managing material master, routings, change masters
1-2 years of experience with Fiori
Basic awareness of AI capabilities and potential use cases in SAP Variant Configuration or related ERP processes
Desired Skills
Working background in Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineering, and Variant Config
Strong customer focus and ability to influence
Ability to quickly understand technology changes and drive advancement within the organization
Ability to understand both technology and business domains
Knowledge of business operations including the technical infrastructure and general business processes.
Exposure to AI-assisted tools or analytics concepts that can support process improvement, documentation, testing, or issue analysis
Skill Descriptors
Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.
Level Expert:
• Gains agreement on the problem-solving process, risk assessment, decision points, and criteria.
• Trains others in the process of eliciting alternatives and assessing their impact.
• Orchestrates the resolution of high-impact and cross-functional problems.
• Successfully organizes problem solvers and stakeholders for high-impact problems.
• Predicts and explains long-term trends and implications for alternatives.
• Monitors industry for best practices and new techniques in problem-solving.
Technology Advising: Knowledge of effective advisory methods and ability to provide valued information and advice to clients regarding products, technologies, services and solutions for a specific technology domain.
Level Extensive Experience:
• Collaborates with an extended professional technology network to help clients effectively identify, plan for and accomplish technology objectives.
• Supervises others in advising a range of clients across a myriad of products, technologies, services and solutions in a relevant technology domain.
• Identifies and evaluates emerging technologies and advises clients regarding their potential business impacts.
• Effectively consults with and conveys technology concepts, business impacts and other advice to senior client levels.
• Trains others in developing technology business, channel management and client coaching.
• Leverages formal certifications in mastery of multiple areas of technology in demonstrating credibility for client consulting.
Application Design, Architecture: Knowledge of application design and architecture principles and practices; ability to utilize application design methodologies, tools, and techniques to convert business requirements and logical models into a technical application design.
Level Expert:
• Advises others on the technical design of high-impact, multi-technology complex applications.
• Contributes to the establishment and implementation of best practices for application design.
• Leads in evaluating and selecting emerging application design tools and techniques.
• Designs cutting-edge application architectures that push the boundaries of current technology standards.
• Directs the development of technical standards for application design.
• Fosters a culture that promotes innovative approaches to application design and architecture.
Requirements Analysis: Knowledge of tools, methods, and techniques of requirement analysis; ability to elicit, analyze and record required business functionality and non-functionality requirements to ensure the success of a system or software development project.
Level Expert:
• Creates leadership positions in identifying and implementing new tools and techniques.
• Shares expertise and his/her broad experience in using modeling tools for multiple requirements.
• Implements best practices for functional and information analysis and maintains the requirements definition.
• Provides insight into developing diverse and multiple requirements analyses.
• Monitors industry and vendor products in terms of improvements and enhancements.
• Establishes and communicates on advance technical standards for each stage of requirements analysis.
System and Technology Integration: Knowledge of the features and facilities of systems; ability to integrate and communicate among applications, databases and technology platforms.
Level Expert:
• Consults with others on system and/or technology integration efforts.
• Monitors system and technology integration trends and directions.
• Plays a leadership role in defining systems integration processes and practices.
• Designs complex interfaces, integration strategies and plans.
• Holds an industry wide conference on system integration and migration issues, problems and considerations.
• Demonstrates extensive experience with system and technology integration.
System Testing: Knowledge of system and software testing; ability to design, plan and execute system testing strategies and tactics to ensure the quality of software at all stages of the system life cycle.