Senior Principal Engineer - SAP EWM

Zuellig Pharma is a leading healthcare solutions company in Asia, and our purpose is to make healthcare more accessible to the communities we serve. We provide world-class distribution, digital, and commercial services to support the growing healthcare needs in this region.

The company was started a hundred years ago and has grown to become a multibillion-dollar business covering 17 markets with over 12,000 employees. Our people serve more than 200,000 medical facilities and work with over 450 clients, including the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world.

Purpose of the Role:

As the Senior Principal Engineer – SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM), you will serve as the technical authority and enterprise solution architect for our mission-critical pharmaceutical distribution and logistics platforms. In this strategic leadership role, you will define the regional SAP EWM architectural roadmap, govern end-to-end design across complex multi-site implementations, lead external implementation partners, and ensure strict compliance with global GxP, GDP, and Computerized Systems Validation (CSV) standards.

What You’ll Do:

Enterprise Solution Architecture & Strategic Roadmap:

• • Define and govern the enterprise SAP EWM architecture across regional distribution centers, cold-chain hubs, and clinical trial facilities.
  • Drive technology roadmaps, evaluate emerging warehouse technologies (AS/RS, AGVs, Material Flow Systems/MFS, IoT temperature monitoring), and lead proof-of-concepts (POCs).
  • Establish global template design standards, ensuring scalability, standardization, and minimal custom code footprint.

Technical Governance & Consultant Lifecycle Management:

• • Lead technical governance over external implementation partners, system integrators (SIs), and technical consultants.
  • Conduct technical assessments, code/design reviews, and enforce deliverable quality against KPIs, SLAs, and statement of work (SOW) commitments.
  • Direct complex custom solution architecture, including BAdI frameworks, custom RF frameworks, and digital inspection workflows.

 Complex Process Engineering & Integration:

• • Architect advanced warehouse workflows for strictly regulated healthcare supply chains: FEFO, cold chain (2–8°C / ultra-low), hazardous storage, and clinical trial kit handling.
  • Oversee end-to-end integration across SAP ERP (ECC 6.0), Quality Management (QIE), and third-party WCS/MES platforms.
  • Design robust Post Processing Framework (PPF) architectures for automated GxP documentation.

System Stability & Advanced Queue Governance:

• • Establish enterprise-wide monitoring frameworks for queue health, qRFC/tRFC, and intermediate document (IDoc) processing to prevent operational bottlenecks.
  • Act as the ultimate escalation SME for high-severity Stuck-In-Queue (SIQ) anomalies, data inconsistencies, and multi-system locking issues.

Validation Strategy, GxP Compliance & Audit Defense:

• • Set the validation and compliance strategy in accordance with GAMP 5, 21 CFR Part 11, PIC/S GDP, and data integrity standards (ALCOA+).
  • Author and approve high-level validation master plans, system risk assessments, and complex change control impact analyses.
  • Serve as the principal technical SME during internal, partner, and health authority regulatory audits.

Leadership & Capability Building:

• • Mentor and coach Principal Engineers, functional analysts, and internal SAP support teams.
  • Foster a culture of technical excellence, continuous improvement, and operational resilience across cross-functional IT and operations units.

What will make you successful: 

Must-Have: 

• • Experience: 8–12+ years of hands-on functional architecture and configuration experience in SAP EWM, with a proven track record leading at least 3 full lifecycle global/regional implementations.
  • Deep experience with EWM 9.5 and S/4HANA (Decentralized), MFS integration, and POSC/LOSC across multi-temperature automated warehouses.
  • Mastery in interface technologies (IDocs, Web Services, OData, qRFC) and queue troubleshooting (SIQ root-cause prevention).
  • Validation & Compliance Leadership: Demonstrated experience leading Computerized Systems Validation (CSV) deliverables, risk-based testing strategies, and audit defense.

Advantage to Have: 

• • Pharma & Healthcare Domain Expertise: In-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical distribution, Good Distribution Practice (GDP), cold chain logistics, clinical trial logistics, and quality inspection workflows.
  • Advanced ABAP & Technical Insight: Strong ability to read/debug complex ABAP code, analyze system dumps, design custom enhancements, and guide technical developers.
  • Supply Chain Automation: Hands-on experience integrating SAP EWM with automated warehouse equipment (AS/RS cranes, conveyor systems, robotics).
  • Certifications: SAP Certified Application Associate/Professional in SAP S/4HANA EWM.
  • Strategic Influence: Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business value for executive leaders, operational heads, and Quality Assurance (QA).
  • Vendor & Partner Governance: Strong commercial and technical acumen to manage external consultants and ensure high-standard delivery.
  • Resilience & High-Stakes Decision-Making: Composed, analytical leadership during critical cutovers, go-lives, and major warehouse operational disruptions.

What we offer: 

• We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where our employees can learn, grow, and achieve shared success.
• We champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring every individual feels valued, respected, and treated fairly.
• As a leading multi-market healthcare solutions provider, we empower our employees to gain comprehensive knowledge and expertise in the dynamic healthcare industry across the region.
• Enjoy the flexibility to effectively balance your work and personal life while taking charge of your career journey through our empowering growth opportunities.
• Our Total Rewards program is designed to support your overall well-being in every aspect.