SAP Product Data Management (PDM) Architect

Location: Houston, TX
Duration: 6 Months

Work: Hybrid (Client location is Houston, TX)

Experience: 12+ Years SAP Experience | 5+ Years in Architecture Leadership

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced SAP Product Data Management (PDM) Architect to lead the strategy, design, and implementation of enterprise Product Data Management solutions across global business operations. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in SAP Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Product Data Management, Engineering Change Management, Material Master Governance, and S/4HANA product data processes.

This role will serve as the functional and solution architecture lead responsible for establishing a scalable and governed product data landscape that supports engineering, manufacturing, procurement, supply chain, quality, and commercial operations.

The successful candidate will partner with business leadership, engineering organizations, manufacturing teams, and enterprise architects to drive digital transformation initiatives and enable a single source of truth for product information across the enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

Product Data Management Strategy & Architecture

·                Define enterprise-wide SAP Product Data Management architecture and target operating model.

• Develop product master data governance frameworks, standards, and best practices.
• Establish scalable product data structures, classification models, and governance controls.
• Drive product information harmonization across business units, manufacturing sites, and geographies.
• Create architecture roadmaps supporting digital engineering and Industry 4.0 initiatives.

SAP PLM & Product Data Management

·                Lead solution architecture for SAP PLM and Product Data Management initiatives.

• Design and implement:

o        Material Master Management

• Bill of Materials (BOM) Management
• Product Structures
• Document Management System (DMS)
• Engineering Change Management (ECM)
• Product Classification
• Product Version Management
• Product Compliance Management
• Establish governance for product creation, maintenance, and retirement processes.
• Ensure traceability of product-related information throughout the lifecycle.

SAP S/4HANA Product Lifecycle Management

·                Lead SAP S/4HANA implementations, upgrades, and transformation programs involving product and engineering data.

• Conduct fit-gap assessments and design workshops.
• Define future-state product data models aligned with SAP best practices.
• Support migration of product information from legacy systems to SAP.

Engineering & Manufacturing Integration

·                Design seamless integration between engineering and manufacturing processes.

• Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate:

o        CAD Systems

• PLM Platforms
• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
• Product Compliance Platforms
• Enterprise Data Platforms
• Ensure alignment between engineering BOM (EBOM) and manufacturing BOM (MBOM).
• Enable digital thread and digital twin initiatives where applicable.

Master Data Governance & Quality

·                Establish product master data governance processes.

• Define stewardship, ownership, and approval workflows.
• Drive data quality improvement initiatives.
• Implement monitoring and reporting mechanisms for data integrity and compliance.
• Support enterprise master data management initiatives.

Stakeholder Management

·                Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Product Development, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, and IT leadership teams.

• Translate business strategies into scalable SAP solutions.
• Facilitate executive architecture reviews and steering committee discussions.
• Mentor solution architects, functional consultants, and business analysts.

Governance & Delivery

·                Review solution designs and ensure compliance with enterprise architecture standards.

• Manage architecture risks, dependencies, and technical decisions.
• Support program estimation, planning, and delivery governance.
• Ensure scalability, performance, security, and regulatory compliance of implemented solutions.

Required Qualifications

Education

·                Bachelor''s Degree in Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, or related field.

• Master''s Degree preferred.

Experience

·                12+ years of SAP consulting and implementation experience.

• 5+ years in Solution Architecture or Enterprise Architecture roles.
• Proven experience leading large-scale product data transformation initiatives.
• Experience with multiple full lifecycle SAP implementations.
• Hands-on experience in SAP S/4HANA transformation programs.

SAP Functional Expertise

Strong experience in several of the following areas:

·                SAP PLM

• SAP Product Data Management (PDM)
• SAP Document Management System (DMS)
• SAP Engineering Change Management (ECM)
• SAP Classification System
• SAP Material Master
• SAP Variant Configuration (VC / AVC)
• SAP MM
• SAP PP
• SAP QM
• SAP EWM
• SAP MDG
• SAP BTP Integration Suite

Product & Engineering Data Expertise

Experience working with:

·                Engineering BOM (EBOM)

• Manufacturing BOM (MBOM)
• Product Lifecycle Management
• Configuration Management
• Product Change Control
• Product Traceability
• Regulatory Compliance Data
• Technical Documentation Management
• Product Introduction and Retirement Processes

Preferred Qualifications

·                SAP PLM Certification

• SAP S/4HANA Certification
• SAP MDG Certification
• Experience integrating SAP with Siemens Teamcenter, PTC Windchill, Dassault ENOVIA, Autodesk, or similar PLM solutions.
• Experience with Digital Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 initiatives.
• Knowledge of AI-enabled Product Development and Product Intelligence solutions.

Industry Experience Preferred

Strong preference for candidates with experience in one or more of the following:

·                Industrial Manufacturing

• High-Tech Manufacturing
• Automotive
• Heavy Equipment Manufacturing

(Houston-based energy and industrial sector experience is highly desirable.)

Key Competencies

·                Enterprise Solution Architecture

• Product Lifecycle Management
• Master Data Governance
• Engineering & Manufacturing Process Design
• SAP S/4HANA Transformation
• Executive Communication
• Stakeholder Management
• Strategic Planning
• Digital Manufacturing
• Cross-functional Leadership

Ideal Candidate Profile

A senior SAP architect with extensive experience in SAP PLM, Product Data Management, Engineering Change Management, and Master Data Governance, capable of leading enterprise-wide product data transformations and serving as a trusted advisor to engineering, manufacturing, and business leadership teams. This profile is particularly suited for large industrial, energy, manufacturing, and engineering organizations in the Houston market.