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Backend Engineer in SAP Sustainability Data Exchange

SAP • Czechia • Added on Sep 14, 2026
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As a Backend Engineer within the Sustainability Data Exchange (SDX) team, you will take ownership of the technical architecture that allows businesses to share critical environmental data. You will spend your days building and maintaining robust APIs, event-driven microservices, and AI-enabled features using Java and Spring Boot. This role moves beyond pure coding to involve the design of data processing pipelines that handle complex multi-tenant supply chain models.

This position is at the heart of the global decarbonization effort. By developing the SDX platform, you are enabling thousands of companies to exchange standardized Scope 3 product footprint information, which is traditionally the hardest data to capture. Your work provides the transparency needed for global value chains to move from vague estimates to actual, actionable carbon data, facilitating real environmental accountability across industries.

This suits someone who has a strong software engineering foundation and is eager to apply their backend skills to solve the planet’s most pressing data transparency problems.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission of this role is to build the technical infrastructure for SAP Sustainability Data Exchange (SDX). You will be responsible for the full lifecycle of backend services, from initial design and development using Java and Spring Boot to testing and deployment. This involves creating RESTful APIs and data processing pipelines that can handle high volumes of environmental data. You will also be tasked with integrating AI and LLM workflows into the platform. This includes designing prompts and building AI-enabled services that help automate or improve how sustainability data is categorized and shared. Your goal is to ensure the system is scalable, reliable, and capable of supporting complex supply chain interactions.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates can expect deep exposure to AI-native application development and modern cloud architectures. You will gain hands-on experience with SAP-specific technologies like SAP HANA and the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), which are industry standards for enterprise-grade software. This is a chance to move from general backend engineering into specialized sustainable tech. Furthermore, you will learn about global sustainability standards such as WBCSD PACT and Catena-X. Understanding how these frameworks translate into data models and API requirements will provide you with a unique intersection of technical and ESG expertise that is increasingly valuable in the software market.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate brings 2 to 4 years of professional backend experience, specifically with Java and Spring Boot. You should have a solid grasp of microservices architecture and experience working with databases—while MongoDB is a plus, a willingness to work with SAP HANA is essential. An ownership mindset is critical, as you will be expected to debug production issues and contribute to system stability. Beyond technical skills, interest in AI and LLM workflows is highly valued. SAP is looking for someone who understands OOP principles and design patterns but is also curious about emerging technologies. Experience with cloud platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure will make your profile particularly competitive.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, highlight any experience you have with data standardization or supply chain logic. If you have worked on projects involving large-scale data exchange between different organizations, emphasize how you handled security and interoperability. This role is about more than just code; it is about building a 'data exchange' ecosystem. Tailor your application by demonstrating an understanding of Scope 3 emissions and why they are difficult for companies to track. Mentioning your familiarity with tools like Docker, Kubernetes, or message brokers like RabbitMQ will show you are ready for their modern DevOps-oriented environment. Show that you are a continuous learner who stays current with backend and AI trends.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

This role focuses specifically on decarbonization of the value chain. While many sustainability roles look at internal operations, this position builds the tools for external transparency. You will be working on features that allow companies to request and share Product Footprint information, which is a core part of addressing climate change at scale. By ensuring that sustainability data is standardized and reliable, you help eliminate the 'greenwashing' risks associated with estimated data. Your work supports global initiatives like the WBCSD, directly impacting how global commerce accounts for its environmental footprint through software-driven collaboration.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the main challenges will be managing the complexity of multi-tenant data models in a supply chain context. Ensuring that data remains secure and private while being easily shareable between business partners requires a sophisticated approach to backend architecture. You may also face technical hurdles related to system migration as the team moves towards SAP HANA. Additionally, integrating AI into production-grade enterprise software brings unique challenges around reliability and performance tuning. You will need to balance the rapid pace of AI innovation with the high stability requirements of a global platform like SDX.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day begins with an Agile Scrum stand-up to coordinate on feature development and identify any blockers. Much of your morning might be spent writing clean, maintainable Java code for a new microservice or refining a REST API endpoint. You will likely spend time in code reviews, providing feedback to peers to ensure high-quality standards across the team. In the afternoon, you might collaborate with product managers to refine technical requirements for an AI-enabled feature or investigate a performance metric in the production environment. You will regularly interact with DevOps and frontend teams to ensure the end-to-end delivery of sustainability features is seamless and efficient.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

Growth at SAP is significant due to its global scale and investment in AI. Within the SDX team, you can evolve into a Senior Developer or a Software Architect role, taking on more strategic design responsibilities. Because SAP is a leader in 'Business AI', you will be at the forefront of how the software industry integrates generative AI into enterprise processes. There are also lateral movement opportunities within the broader SAP sustainability portfolio. Success in this role provides a high-visibility platform, as sustainability is a strategic priority for the company's executive leadership, potentially leading to leadership roles in green-tech innovation.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will primarily interact with Product Managers to understand the roadmap for sustainability data exchange and with Frontend Engineers to ensure APIs are well-integrated. You will also work closely with DevOps teams to manage the health and deployment of your services on the SAP Business Technology Platform. Internally, you might engage with AI Experts to optimize LLM workflows and prompts. Externally, while you may not speak to customers directly every day, your technical decisions are guided by the standards set by global sustainability bodies and industry partners like Catena-X, making them indirect but vital stakeholders.

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