SAP CATS Configuration Specialist (with Backup SAP Technical Lead Support) - Witchita. KS

SAP CATS Configuration Specialist

(with Backup SAP Technical Lead Support)

Location: Wichita, Kansas (on-site / hybrid - per engagement terms)
Reports To: Global IT Director, Boeing Wichita
Engagement Type: Contract / Contract-to-hire (recruiter to confirm terms) / Full-time
Primary Focus: SAP CATS (Cross-Application Time Sheets) configuration & development
Secondary Focus: Backup support to SAP Technical Lead (BASIS, development, technical governance)

Position Summary

Boeing Wichita is seeking a hands-on SAP CATS expert to own configuration and development of Cross-Application Time Sheets in support of complex labor and payroll requirements across our manufacturing and enterprise business systems landscape. This role requires deep functional and technical command of CATS, including custom data entry profiles, approval workflows, and integration with Time Management (PT/PA) and Payroll, in a union and shift-differential manufacturing environment.

As a secondary responsibility, this person will serve as backup to our SAP Technical Lead, providing coverage across BASIS operations, the development team, and broader SAP technical governance when the Technical Lead is unavailable.

Key Responsibilities SAP CATS (Primary - approx. 75 80% of role)

• Configure and maintain CATS profiles, data entry views (CAT2/CAC2), and field selection to support complex, multi-shift labor reporting requirements.
• Design and program CATS validation rules, time evaluation logic, and error-message handling to enforce labor and union contract compliance.
• Build and maintain custom CATS enhancements (BAdIs, user-exits, ABAP logic) to support non-standard payroll rules, differentials, and labor codes.
• Manage integration between CATS and Time Management (Infotypes 2001/2002), Payroll, and downstream cost/labor-distribution processes.
• Partner with Payroll, HR, and Manufacturing & Quality stakeholders to translate complex labor and union agreement requirements into CATS configuration.
• Support CATS-related transports, testing, and cutover activities for payroll-cycle changes, union contract updates, and regulatory changes.
• Troubleshoot and resolve CATS data entry, approval workflow, and time-transfer issues, including root-cause analysis on payroll discrepancies.
• Maintain documentation of CATS configuration, custom logic, and business rules for audit and knowledge-transfer purposes.

Backup SAP Technical Lead Support (Secondary - approx. 20 25% of role)

• Serve as designated backup to the SAP Technical Lead, providing continuity of coverage across BASIS operations, the development team, and technical delivery when the Technical Lead is out or overloaded.
• Maintain working familiarity with BASIS activities (system health, transport management, client operations) sufficient to escalate or triage in the Technical Lead's absence.
• Provide technical oversight and unblock developers on in-flight SAP development work as needed.
• Represent the technical team in governance forums (e.g., TIRB) on an as-needed basis when the primary Technical Lead is unavailable.
• Support technical requirements gathering and solution design for cross-functional SAP initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on SAP CATS configuration and development experience, including complex labor and payroll rule implementation.
• Strong working knowledge of SAP Time Management (PT) and Payroll (PY) integration points with CATS.
• Demonstrated experience programming custom CATS logic (BAdIs, user-exits, or comparable ABAP-based enhancements).
• Experience supporting manufacturing, shift-based, or union labor environments (differentials, overtime rules, multi-shift reporting).
• Solid understanding of core SAP technical architecture sufficient to provide credible backup coverage for BASIS and development functions.
• Strong communication skills; able to work directly with Payroll, HR, and manufacturing stakeholders to translate business rules into system configuration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace, defense, or other complex union-labor manufacturing environments.
• Exposure to SAP BASIS fundamentals (transport management, system monitoring, client administration).
• Experience supporting SAP governance processes (change control boards, technical review boards).
• Prior experience as a technical lead or lead developer on an SAP team.

Notes for Recruiter

• This is a techno-functional role; the candidate must be comfortable both configuring CATS directly and reading/writing supporting custom code, not purely a functional analyst.
• Candidates who present as "CATS-adjacent" (general Time Management only, no CATS-specific configuration/programming depth) should not be advanced without confirming direct CATS experience.
• Backup Technical Lead responsibility is secondary but real; flag candidates with zero BASIS/technical-team exposure as a gap to probe in screening, not a disqualifier.