Senior/Expert Gardener Networking Engineer (f/m/d)

We help the world run better
At SAP, we keep it simple: you bring your best to us, and we'll bring out the best in you. We're builders touching over 20 industries and 80% of global commerce, and we need your unique talents to help shape what's next. The work is challenging – but it matters. You'll find a place where you can be yourself, prioritize your wellbeing, and truly belong. What's in it for you? Constant learning, skill growth, great benefits, and a team that wants you to grow and succeed. 

What you'll do:

Summary:

We’re not just offering a job, we’re inviting you to shape the future of cloud-native infrastructure at SAP and in all of Europe. The Gardener project powers SAP’s global landscape as the Kubernetes management solution and is trusted as the foundation for countless enterprise workloads at SAP and outside. We have committed to open source by donating Gardener into a neutral foundation.

This is growth, not replacement. We’re not just offering a job, we’re inviting you to shape the future of cloud-native infrastructure at SAP and in all of Europe. We have committed to open source by donating our projects into the neutral NeoNephos foundation. Make your mark, invite others, and discover #SAPEUAICloudCareers. Let’s build what’s next together.

Our Networking team is contributing to Gardener by designing and developing networking solutions that allow scalable, secure and reliable network transfer within and around Kubernetes clusters. Our team brings deep knowledge about the whole container networking stack, working with solutions such as Calico, Cilium, Istio and eBPF. We primarily use Go for development. If you are interested in solving complex networking challenges and working with advanced cloud native technologies, this is the right place for you.

We’re building Apeiro, an open-source reference architecture that strengthens Europe’s digital sovereignty. This initiative is part of a broader movement to ensure security, sustainability, and compliance for cloud-to-edge computing. By joining us, you’ll contribute to a project that’s not just technical, it’s strategic for Europe’s future.

The Role:

• Use your in-depth networking knowledge to shape, build and maintain the networking underneath for thousands of managed Kubernetes clusters on various cloud providers.
• Design and develop solutions for networking problems within Kubernetes clusters and around them.
• Analyze complex networking challenges in the context of containers and Kubernetes, translating findings into long-term sustainable solutions.
• Enable fast east-west networking transfer technologies required for containerized AI/ML workloads running within Kubernetes.
• Build and maintain extensions for Gardener which add additional managed networking capabilities such as Service and Cluster Meshes on top of Kubernetes clusters.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and other teams and translate their needs into scalable and maintainable solutions.
• Continuously learn and apply new technologies in the sector to stay up to date.

What you bring:

• Very good understanding of Kubernetes, cloud and container technologies.
• Strong background with computer networking and routing, especially about network troubleshooting.
• Proven hands-on software engineering experience with Go.
• Ideally expertise with high-performance networking for GPU-accelerated AI/ML workloads in Kubernetes, leveraging RDMA technologies (InfiniBand, RoCE) and advanced GPU interconnects (NVLink/NVSwitch) for inter-node communication.
• At least 5-8 years of professional experience in a related field.
• A degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Good communication skills in English, both written and verbal.

We value your familiarity with the technology stack, but even more, we appreciate your talent for understanding complex problems and driving solutions. Your expertise will be essential in fostering effective communication and ensuring that each project advances in line with our strategic goals.

Meet your team:

We are a team of builders, innovators, and collaborators. Our culture is rooted in openness and trust. We believe the best ideas come from diverse perspectives, and we create space for every voice to be heard.

We thrive on curiosity and continuous learning. This is a place where you can make an impact that matters. Your work will influence not only SAP but also Europe’s digital future. We support each other, we push boundaries together, and we never stop exploring what’s next.

We are extremely proud of what we have built, and we would like you to be part of this journey. We build not only a few projects; we are the backbone of SAP’s cloud-native infrastructure and a leading open-source solution trusted across industries.This is growth, not replacement. If you know someone who also wants to be part of this journey, explore #oracareers and join together.

#SAPEUAICloudCareers, #SAPORACareers

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Bring out your best
SAP innovations help more than four hundred thousand customers worldwide work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively. Originally known for leadership in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, SAP has evolved to become a market leader in end-to-end business application software and related services for database, analytics, intelligent technologies, and experience management. As a cloud company with two hundred million users and more than one hundred thousand employees worldwide, we are purpose-driven and future-focused, with a highly collaborative team ethic and commitment to personal development. Whether connecting global industries, people, or platforms, we help ensure every challenge gets the solution it deserves. At SAP, you can bring out your best.  

We win with inclusion
SAP’s culture of inclusion, focus on health and well-being, and flexible working models help ensure that everyone – regardless of background – feels included and can run at their best. At SAP, we believe we are made stronger by the unique capabilities and qualities that each person brings to our company, and we invest in our employees to inspire confidence and help everyone realize their full potential. We ultimately believe in unleashing all talent and creating a better world.

SAP is committed to the values of Equal Employment Opportunity and provides accessibility accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with SAP and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please send an e-mail with your request to Recruiting Operations Team: Careers@sap.com.

For SAP employees: Only permanent roles are eligible for the SAP Employee Referral Program, according to the eligibility rules set in the SAP Referral Policy. Specific conditions may apply for roles in Vocational Training.

AI Usage in the Recruitment Process

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Please note that any violation of these guidelines may result in disqualification from the hiring process.

Requisition ID: 444925  | Work Area: Software-Design and Development  | Expected Travel: 0 - 10%  | Career Status: Professional  | Employment Type: Part-Time, or Regular Full Time

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