Principal Architect

About the role

As a Principal Architect, you will make an impact by translating complex client requirements into scalable, high-performing engineering solutions and driving the modernization of enterprise platforms.

You will work collaboratively with engineering teams, Product Owners, business analysts, QA teams, and client stakeholders to provide technical leadership across solution architecture, implementation, modernization, and continuous delivery. You will help evolve enterprise API and legacy platforms into modern, cloud-native environments leveraging Java, Spring Boot, AWS, Apache Kafka, Python, and MongoDB.

In this role, you will:

Lead enterprise architecture and modernization: Design scalable target-state architectures and guide the modernization of enterprise APIs, legacy applications, and complex backend platforms on AWS using microservices and event-driven architecture.

Drive technical transition and delivery: Lead technical execution across knowledge acquisition, shadow, and reverse-shadow transition phases while ensuring technical readiness, knowledge continuity, documentation, and successful handoffs.

Provide hands-on engineering leadership: Establish architecture and engineering standards across Java/Spring Boot microservices, REST/SOAP APIs, Python workflows, Apache Kafka, MongoDB, and AWS-based solutions while guiding code quality, testing, observability, and CI/CD practices.

Own technical delivery governance: Partner with Product Owners and engineering teams on backlog management, technical roadmaps, dependencies, SLAs/KPIs, performance, and delivery quality across assigned workstreams.

Partner with clients and engineering teams: Serve as a senior technical advisor to client engineering leads and cross-functional stakeholders, translating business requirements into technical solutions while mentoring development, QA, BA, and product teams.

Work model

We strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a remote position open to qualified applicants in the United States. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance through our various wellbeing programs.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you’re engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.

What you need to have to be considered

15+ years of strong architecture and hands-on engineering experience with Java, Spring Boot, Spring Cloud, microservices, distributed systems, and REST/SOAP APIs.

Demonstrated experience architecting secure, highly available cloud solutions on AWS, including technologies such as ECS/EKS, Lambda, IAM, and API Gateway.

Experience designing event-driven and real-time architectures using Apache Kafka, messaging technologies, and asynchronous integration patterns.

Experience leading enterprise platform modernization, legacy integration, technical transition, CI/CD, observability, performance, and engineering-quality practices.

These will help you stand out

Hands-on experience with Python for data workflows, integration utilities, or supporting microservices.

Experience with supporting technologies such as RabbitMQ, Redis, MySQL, and Docker.

Experience with DataDog or similar enterprise monitoring and observability platforms, along with performance-testing practices.

Experience working within Agile/SAFe environments and tools such as Jira, Confluence, ServiceNow, Postman, and SoapUI.

Work experience in travel domain/industry.

Applications will be accepted till October 30th, 2026.

Salary and Other Compensation:

The annual salary for this position is between $116,100 to $175,000 depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.

Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

· Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

· Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off

· 401(k) plan and contributions

· Long-term/Short-term Disability

· Paid Parental Leave

· Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.