Staff Software Engineer (m/w/d)

Syntax is a leading Managed Cloud Provider for Mission Critical Enterprise Applications and has been providing comprehensive technology solutions to businesses of all sizes since 1972. Syntax has undisputed strength to implement and manage ERP deployments (Oracle, SAP) in a secure and resilient private, public or hybrid cloud. With strong technical and functional consulting services, and world-class monitoring and automation, Syntax serves some of North America’s largest corporations across a diverse range of industries. Syntax has offices worldwide, and partners with Oracle, SAP, AWS, Microsoft, IBM and other global technology leaders.

Global Business Innovation (GBI) is Syntax's product engineering unit and its agentic engineering hub: we build AI products for SAP environments, and we build them with agents — agentic coding workflows, agent harnesses, and eval-driven engineering are our daily SDLC, not a pilot. Germany is where we are anchoring that capability, and this role anchors Germany. Our stack is CAP, Node.js, and SAP BTP, and our differentiation is deep SAP specialization — which is why a strong SAP background is a hard requirement, not a preference. 

You will lead one of our engineering squads: own its technical direction and delivery, set the standard for how a squad engineers with agents, and coach the people in it. What you establish here becomes the pattern the wider unit adopts. This is a hands-on leadership role — you set architecture, review the hard changes, and stay close to the code. 

What you will do 

• Lead a product squad end to end: architecture, delivery, quality, and roadmap execution for a CAP/Node.js product line on SAP BTP. 
• Own framework-level engineering decisions — our products live or die on how well we use (and extend) the CAP runtime, so the squad needs a lead who understands it below the API surface. 
• Drive agentic engineering adoption in the squad: Claude Code workflows, agent harnesses, and eval loops as standard practice, aligned with GBI's SDLC framework. 
• Coach and grow engineers, from associate to senior; run the squad's ceremonies and technical reviews. 
• Represent the squad's work toward product management, GBI leadership, and — where it strengthens our position — the SAP developer community. 

What you bring 

• A strong SAP background: several years building enterprise software inside the SAP ecosystem — SAP itself, an SAP partner, or an SAP-centric ISV — with deep, current knowledge of SAP BTP and the Cloud Application Programming Model. Our products are purpose-built for SAP environments; the squad lead cannot learn the ecosystem on the job. 
• A doctorate in computer science or information systems, with peer-reviewed publications in distributed systems, self-adaptive systems, or a closely related field. Our agentic engineering work builds directly on this research tradition — we need a lead who has contributed to it, not only read about it. 
• 8+ years in enterprise software product development at a major vendor or ISV, including architect-level ownership of a Node.js-based enterprise application framework runtime (e.g., SAP Cloud Application Programming Model). 
• Working knowledge of CAP internals from building the framework itself or contributing to its runtime — not solely from building applications on top of it. 
• Product experience across at least two enterprise domains (e.g., IoT, CRM/customer experience), with demonstrated ability to switch between platform and product perspectives. 
• Formal teaching or lecturing experience (university, Duale Hochschule, or equivalent sustained engagement) — coaching is half this job. 
• Recognized standing in the SAP developer community, e.g., as a designated product or topic expert. 
• Fluent German and English.
• Nice to have:
  • Experience with agentic coding tools (Claude Code or comparable) and LLM-based engineering workflows.
  • Prior program-committee or reviewer roles in the pervasive/autonomic computing community. 

Why Syntax?

Become a part of our success story and work in a company with exciting innovation projects that are causing a stir across the industry. We recently launched one of the world's most advanced manufacturing facilities based on SAP S/4HANA Cloud and SAP Digital Manufacturing Cloud for Execution - for Smart Press Shop, a pioneering joint venture between Porsche and forming specialist Schuler.  

• Competitive, above-average compensation
• Global tourist: With us, you can also work from abroad from time to time
• Flexible working time models, home office
• Attractive benefits, e.g. company pension scheme or various health offers
• A modern environment in which the "you" is part of it
• Open feedback culture, flat hierarchies and a motivated team
• Individual career planning with continuous training and coaching on the job

You see a personal challenge in this responsible task? Apply now - and become part of the SYNTAX team!