Technical Lead - Data Engineer

Technical Lead - Data Engineering

About the role

Onsite Technical Lead - Data Engineering to work closely with customer stakeholders and offshore delivery teams. The role requires strong hands-on expertise in Python/PySpark and SQL, along with good knowledge of Microsoft Fabric or other cloud data platforms. The individual will provide technical leadership, drive solution design and delivery, troubleshoot complex issues, and act as the primary technical interface with the customer.

In this role, you will:

• Act as the onsite technical lead and primary technical point of contact for customer stakeholders.
• Understand business and technical requirements and translate them into scalable data engineering solutions.
• Design, develop and review solutions using Python, PySpark and SQL.
• Provide technical leadership across data ingestion, transformation, processing and integration workloads.
• Work with Microsoft Fabric or comparable cloud technologies such as Microsoft Azure, AWS or Google Cloud Platform.
• Support solution architecture, technical design, development standards and code reviews.
• Collaborate closely with offshore engineering teams, providing technical direction and ensuring effective onsite-offshore coordination.
• Lead technical discussions, requirement walkthroughs, design reviews and customer-facing solution discussions.
• Troubleshoot complex application, data and performance issues and drive them to resolution.
• Ensure adherence to engineering best practices, security, scalability and performance standards.
• Support estimation, planning, dependency management and technical risk identification.
• Coordinate releases and provide technical support during implementation and production deployments.
• Identify opportunities for automation, modernisation and performance improvement across the data landscape.
• Mentor team members and support technical capability development.
• Strong customer-facing communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to lead technical discussions and explain complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and business stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently in an onsite environment and take ownership of technical deliverables.
• Experience coordinating with geographically distributed/offshore teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, risks and dependencies in a delivery environment.

We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role's business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 3 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in Hartford, CT. 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

• Strong hands-on experience with Python and PySpark.
• Advanced working knowledge of SQL, including complex queries, data transformations and performance optimisation.
• Strong understanding of data engineering and ETL/ELT concepts.
• Experience with Microsoft Fabric or at least one major cloud platform, such as Azure, AWS or GCP.
• Understanding of modern data architectures, data pipelines, data lakes/lakehouses and analytical platforms.
• Experience developing, debugging and supporting enterprise-scale data solutions.
• Good understanding of software engineering practices, source control, CI/CD and deployment processes.

These will help you stand out

• Experience with Power BI, including report development and/or integration with analytical data platforms.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Fabric components, such as Lakehouse, OneLake, Data Factory, Spark and Warehouse.
• Exposure to Databricks or similar distributed data-processing platforms.
• Experience in cloud/data-platform modernisation or migration programmes.

We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role.

Salary and Other Compensation

Applications will be accepted until December 4, 2026.

The annual salary for this position is between $68,000 - $109,000 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.