IT Solution Architect – SAP Plant Maintenance (PM)

Location: Hyderabad, India

Join Lonza's Global IT organization as a Solution Architect, Acquire to Retire (A2R), where you will play a key role in shaping and governing technology solutions that support asset lifecycle management, plant maintenance, scheduling, and operational excellence across Lonza's global manufacturing network. This position offers the opportunity to work closely with Global Process Owners, business stakeholders, Enterprise Architects, delivery teams, and technology partners to deliver scalable, compliant, and sustainable solutions that align with business objectives and enterprise architecture standards.

As the primary architecture partner for the A2R process area, you will provide technical leadership across SAP Plant Maintenance, SAP Asset Manager, EVO Suite Scheduling, and related technologies, ensuring application, integration, data, and technology decisions support long-term business goals while maintaining security, compliance, and operational efficiency.

This is an office-first role. Working together in person supports close, real-time collaboration and team alignment, enabling us to deliver our best work. You will work primarily in the office, with the flexibility to work remotely for 20% of your time (one day per week).

What you will get

• An agile career and dynamic working culture.
• An inclusive and ethical workplace.
• Compensation programs that recognize high performance.
• Opportunities to influence the architecture and future evolution of Lonza's A2R technology landscape.
• Exposure to global digital transformation, SAP modernization, asset management, and manufacturing initiatives.
• Professional growth through architecture leadership, strategic technology planning, and enterprise-wide transformation programs.
• Collaboration with Global Process Owners, Enterprise Architects, business stakeholders, and leading technology partners.
• Opportunities to contribute to application modernization, operational excellence, and innovation initiatives.
• A variety of benefits dependent on role and location.

The full list of our global benefits can be found here: https://www.lonza.com/careers/benefits.

What you will do

• Define and maintain solution architectures supporting the Acquire to Retire (A2R) process landscape.
• Design end-to-end application, integration, data, and technology solutions that align with business requirements and enterprise architecture principles.
• Develop solution roadmaps that support business strategy, operational objectives, and technology transformation initiatives.
• Evaluate architecture alternatives and recommend optimal solutions that balance business value, scalability, maintainability, security, and compliance.
• Ensure solutions are aligned with target-state technology landscapes and enterprise architecture standards.
• Lead architecture activities throughout project, enhancement, and transformation lifecycles, from design through deployment and operational transition.
• Review and approve solution designs for projects, enhancements, integrations, and technology changes within the A2R domain.
• Govern solution lifecycle decisions, architecture standards, technical debt management, and technology alignment activities.
• Identify and mitigate architectural risks while ensuring long-term sustainability of the application landscape.
• Partner with Global Process Owners and business leaders to translate strategic objectives into technology capabilities and solution roadmaps.
• Provide architecture leadership and guidance for business transformation initiatives, process improvements, and digitalization programs.
• Act as a subject matter expert for SAP PM, SAP Asset Manager, and EVO Suite Scheduling capabilities, advising stakeholders on technology opportunities and best practices.
• Collaborate with business teams to understand operational challenges and design solutions that optimize maintenance, asset management, and scheduling processes.
• Drive the adoption of SAP best practices, industry standards, and modern technology capabilities across the A2R landscape.
• Lead the design of integrated SAP solutions across SAP ECC, SAP S/4HANA, SAP Fiori, SAP Business Technology Platform, and related technologies.
• Define and document solution architectures, process flows, functional specifications, interface requirements, and technical design artifacts.
• Support project planning, estimation, implementation activities, deployment readiness, and operational handover.
• Resolve complex technical issues and cross-functional integration challenges across business and technology domains.
• Provide architectural direction and governance to implementation partners, external service providers, and consulting organizations.
• Support technology evaluations, vendor assessments, and strategic solution selection activities.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and architecture patterns to improve business outcomes, operational efficiency, and user experience.

Senior-Level Responsibilities

• Lead architecture decisions for highly complex, business-critical applications supporting manufacturing, maintenance, calibration, supply chain, and quality processes.
• Assess the operational and business impact of end-to-end process and solution designs across multiple functions and technology domains.
• Review and approve complex solution architectures in regulated environments, ensuring compliance with GxP requirements and validation standards.
• Apply advanced knowledge of Computer System Validation (CSV) and validation lifecycle activities, including IQ, OQ, and PQ requirements.
• Partner with Quality and Validation teams to establish validation approaches and support Validation Master Plan development.
• Provide architectural leadership for complex integrations involving maintenance, calibration, manufacturing, and quality systems.
• Leverage industry knowledge and external networks to benchmark solution designs and identify best practices.
• Guide and assess solution providers and implementation partners to ensure delivery quality and strategic alignment.

What we are looking for

• Proven experience designing and implementing SAP Plant Maintenance solutions within SAP ECC and/or SAP S/4HANA environments.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in SAP solution architecture, application design, implementation, or related technology leadership roles.
• Deep expertise in SAP Plant Maintenance (PM), SAP Asset Manager, and EVO Suite Scheduling solutions.
• Strong understanding of asset lifecycle management, maintenance operations, field service, scheduling, and maintenance planning processes.
• Hands-on experience with key SAP PM functional capabilities including:
  • Equipment Management
  • Functional Locations
  • Maintenance Notifications
  • Work Order Management
  • Preventive Maintenance
  • Asset Hierarchies
  • Maintenance Planning and Scheduling
  • Calibration Integrations, including CMX
• Strong knowledge of SAP S/4HANA Asset Management functionality and associated business processes.
• Experience with Maintenance Resource Scheduling (MRS), Asset Performance Management (APM), mobile maintenance solutions, and modern maintenance technologies.
• Knowledge of SAP Fiori, SAP Business Technology Platform, and contemporary SAP user experience and integration technologies.
• Strong understanding of integration points between SAP PM and related modules, including:
  • Materials Management (MM)
  • Asset Accounting (AA)
  • Project Systems (PS)
  • Production Planning (PP)
  • Environment, Health & Safety (EHS)
• Experience designing enterprise-scale application, integration, and data architectures.
• Strong background in SAP configuration, enhancement, troubleshooting, and solution optimization.
• Experience leading architecture governance, design reviews, technology evaluations, and strategic solution decision-making.
• Proven ability to analyze business processes, identify improvement opportunities, and translate requirements into sustainable technology solutions.
• Knowledge of enterprise architecture principles, solution governance, technology roadmaps, and application lifecycle management.
• Experience working within regulated manufacturing, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or GMP-compliant environments is preferred.
• Understanding of Computer System Validation (CSV), GxP processes, and regulatory compliance requirements is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience working with external vendors, implementation partners, and managed service providers.
• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Business Information Systems, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• SAP certifications and architecture-related certifications are advantageous.

About Lonza

At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. Working across sites and functions, our globally connected teams help our customers bring life-changing therapies to patients around the world. Our values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion, and Integrity define how we work together and support our commitment to delivering high-quality solutions.

Innovation succeeds when diverse perspectives come together. At Lonza, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where every employee can contribute, grow, and make a meaningful impact.

Ready to help shape the future of asset management, maintenance, and operational technology solutions at Lonza? Apply now.