PDM Digital Supply Chain Solution Engineer

Purpose and Scope:

The PDM Digital Supply Chain Solution Engineer is a senior individual contributor responsible for shaping and assuring digital solutions that support warehousing, inventory, transportation, logistics and distribution. The role translates business, operational and regulatory requirements into scalable, secure and compliant solution designs across Transportation Management Systems (TMS), SAP WM/IM, the logistics-execution elements of SAP SD, and associated integrations.

Working with Business Process Owners, System Owners, DigitalX, Enterprise Architecture, Quality, Validation and delivery partners, the role leads technical solution activities and coordinates system integration testing and user acceptance testing (UAT) support from requirements through implementation, stabilisation and transition to operations in a GxP-regulated environment.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Solution Design and Technical Assurance

Translate warehousing, inventory, transportation and distribution needs into functional, technical, integration, data, security and non-functional requirements.

Develop solution options, target designs, data flows and fit-to-standard assessments across TMS, SAP WM/IM or EWM, SAP SD logistics execution and associated platforms.

Ensure designs align with enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, data, quality, privacy and approved technology standards.

Own technical design quality and maintain clear design decisions, assumptions, dependencies and acceptance criteria.

• Delivery, Testing and UAT Support

Lead assigned technical workstreams from design through implementation, stabilisation and transition to support.

Define the technical test strategy and coordinate system integration testing and UAT support, including end-to-end processes, interfaces, roles, data, regression and applicable non-functional testing.

Ensure requirements traceability, test scripts, test data, evidence, defects, retesting and approvals are managed in accordance with applicable GxP and validation controls.

Lead defect triage and technical impact assessment, and ensure critical issues are resolved or formally accepted before release.

Review vendor and system-integrator deliverables against approved requirements, designs, standards and acceptance criteria.

• GxP Validation and Governance

Partner with Business Process Owners, System Owners, Quality and Validation teams on risk assessment, validation planning, traceability, evidence review, deviation management and release readiness.

Remain accountable for the completeness and quality of technical deliverables. Formal business acceptance, quality approval and validation approval remain with the designated accountable functions.

Support architecture governance, change control, CAB, audit readiness, records management and system lifecycle processes.

• SCM Process and Stakeholder Engagement

Act as the principal digital interface for warehousing, logistics, transportation and distribution stakeholders, DigitalX, architecture, quality and external partners.

Facilitate requirements, design, testing and decision workshops, clearly communicating solution options, risks, defects and trade-offs.

Promote global standards while addressing justified regulatory, legal and operational requirements.

• Technology, Data and Integration

Shape solutions supporting transportation planning and execution, carrier connectivity, tendering and booking, shipment visibility, exception management, freight settlement and integration with warehouse and distribution processes.

Define integration requirements across SAP, TMS, warehouses, carriers, freight forwarders, third-party logistics providers and enterprise platforms using APIs, middleware, EDI and event-based patterns.

Define master-data, migration, reconciliation, reporting, analytics and information-quality requirements.

Assess appropriate automation, analytics and AI opportunities while ensuring security, compliance and supportability.

Essential qualifications and experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Supply Chain or a related discipline.
• Experience delivering digital solutions across warehousing, logistics, transportation or distribution in a complex global organisation.
• Strong working knowledge of TMS and SAP logistics capabilities, including SAP WM/IM or EWM and the logistics-execution elements of SAP SD.
• Practical experience integrating SAP or TMS with warehouses, carriers, freight forwarders, third-party logistics providers or enterprise platforms.
• Hands-on experience leading or coordinating system integration testing and UAT support, including planning, script review, traceability, test data, defect management, retesting and evidence.
• Experience delivering and testing systems in a GxP or similarly regulated environment, with working knowledge of computer-system validation and change control.
• Experience defining solution designs, requirements, integrations, data flows and technical options.
• Experience leading technical workstreams and managing system integrators, software vendors or managed-service providers.
• Working knowledge of APIs, middleware, EDI, data governance, cybersecurity and system lifecycle management.
• Strong communication, facilitation, analytical and stakeholder-management skills.

Desirable qualifications and experience

• Pharmaceutical or life-sciences experience, including GxP validation and audit readiness.
• Combined experience across TMS, SAP WM/IM or EWM, and SAP SD logistics execution.
• Experience in transportation planning and execution, carrier tendering, shipment visibility, freight settlement or logistics exception management.
• Experience with data migration, reconciliation, role and security testing, performance or volume testing, cutover rehearsal and post-go-live verification.
• Experience with Power BI, SAP Analytics Cloud, AI or intelligent automation in supply-chain operations.
• Relevant SAP, TMS, testing, validation, architecture, Agile, cloud, data or supply-chain certification.

Working Environment

Astellas recognises the importance of work-life balance and offers a hybrid working approach that combines time connecting with colleagues in the office with flexibility to work from home, in accordance with the Astellas Responsible Flexibility Guidelines.