Functional Engineer SAP

About AkzoNobel

Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.

For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com 

© 2024 Akzo Nobel N.V. All rights reserved.

Job Description

1. Purpose of the job

(Ensure the) Design, develop, test, and implement IT solutions and processes in IT systems like applications, platforms and networks through IT changes, projects in line with global Information Technology (IT) and security guidelines, to support company business requirements to create company value. In the Application Delivery Domain Commercial the focus of this role will be on Order to Cash and (Field) Service processes in SAP and integrations of those processes into other systems. The Functional Engineer in Application Delivery is responsible for detailing design and hardwiring business requirements as per Architectural and Security guidelines. This is done through projects, changes and increasingly more through Agile DevOps teams. This requires high quality Stories (change specifications) and projects changes which will allow Engineers and/or Developers to translate into code/configuration. The Functional Engineer sees to properly coordinate, review, approve and execute stories/project changes and has an active role monitoring status, in (unit)testing and change management once developed, including organizing sign-off after testing. The Functional Engineer has an active role in the preparation and execution of the actual changes together with our partners and external consultants where applicable. On request, a Functional Engineer can be asked to be involved in solving urgent high priority incidents and plays a role in process improvements alongside with business. The work is either done being part of the responsibilities in the line management organization, in agile teams under the leadership of a Scrum Master, or in the case of a waterfall under the leadership of the Project Manager. Depending on the seniority of the Engineer, he/she will also assume these project management activities as a role or will take the lead in delivery of end-to-end changes. It is the intention that more and more work get done as part of the standing organization and no longer create a project for every single change that needs to be done. The Functional Engineer will participate in improving the way we manage our financials. This includes but is not limited to entering POs for everything that needs to be done before the work starts. Ensuring we have the right provisions in place that reflect the expected spend, even if invoices come in much later. Proper contract and supplier management needs to be executed to ensure that existing contracts are timely renewed given us enough time to see how we can improve/optimize the current conditions or to stop a current service or support.

2. Key responsibilities

Story specification:

Translate business requirements into clear detailed designs. Own and develop high quality Stories (change specifications) and project changes for Engineers and External Consultants to then translate into code or config and a proposal on a change implementation.

Development & delivery:

Guide, coordinate and oversee the preparation and execution and implementation of the (project) changes and the development of the code/config of Stories. Ensure that all partners follow established standards (process- & documentation standards, coding and testing standards, naming conventions etc.). Review, Approve and control the implementation and/or embedding of new, enhancements and/or modifications of applications, systems and/or solutions. This results in building sustainable and stable first-time right solutions in a very collaborate team spirit (also with external service providers) and in an engaging way with stakeholders and consumers of the solutions. Solutions are built according to the Architectural and Security principles and changes are timely & adequately prepared & documented and/or code works as intended.

Testing:

Own testing of changes or stories, and/or actively oversee testing by business. Develop test scripts, examine test outcomes, sign off for unit testing and coordinate business sign off for Application Delivery related testing. Contribute to test planning and test management for a specific release. Resulting in, changes and/or code are properly and timely tested.

Incident management:

Perform functional or technical problem analysis in case of incidents or issues as needed depending on the severity of the problem. Perform root cause analysis, document these and share findings. Deploy (or oversee deployment) of updates and fixes. To ensure that issues, incidents, and problems are swiftly and effectively resolved.

Process management and improvement:

Monitor, guard, test and analyze that the use and security of applications and systems regarding the functional and performance aspects are in line with the agreed performance indicators, and if necessary, take measures. Actively contribute to process improvement: e.g., tool development, dashboard/insight development and visualization, script automation. Has a good view of the technical state of the application (technical debt) and regularly discuss and works seamlessly together with the (domain)Architect to develop plans to resolve the technical debt. Resulting in, available and optimally performing applications and IT infrastructure for the business and, DevOps process, tooling and dashboards are continuously improving.

Project support:

Support a project manager by taking ownership of specific project deliverables (specifications, config, testing, etc.). Define, plan, manage and participate in assigned project deliverables from the own functional or technical domain, in accordance with the IT project manager and involved business project owners. Resulting in, efficient and effective realization of project deliverables.

3. Job requirements

• Bachelors or master degree

• 5 - 7 years of experience as SAP consultant with in depth knowledge of SAP SD and CS

• Knowledge and experience of integration with other SAP modules such as MM, LE, FI or CO

• Being a process expert for your domain, with knowledge of order to cash and field service processes

• Experience in multidisciplinary projects

• Experience with development of integrations with 3 party applications via API and EDI

• Owner of End-to-End changes • Extensive configuration (build) experience

• ABAP debugging experience is a plus

• Being able to advise the business on improvements to the related business processes.

• Experience in Agile way of working

• Having a can-do mentality

• Ability to collaborate with business stakeholders and translate business needs into IT solutions

• Excellent communication skills, able to explain technical matters in simple terms and clear specifications. Map business requirements to the technical architecture design and data model

• Excellent verbal and written English

At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.