Technical Lead Java Full Stack Engineer

About the Role We are seeking a Technical Lead Java Full Stack Developer to architect, build, and scale API-first platforms and integrations.

This role requires deep expertise in Java and Spring Boot, combined with front-end proficiency in React/TypeScript, to deliver end-to-end solutions.

You will lead the design and delivery of high-volume APIs, cloud-native microservices on AWS, and guide teams on best practices for reliability, security, and observability.

Work model This is a hybrid role based on business requirements in Columbus, OH & Plano, Texas . Regardless of work arrangement, we support a healthy work-life balance through our wellbeing programs.

Working arrangements may change based on project or client needs.

Please note: A few of our roles may require in-person interviews at Cognizant offices or client locations, depending on project or client needs.

Candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future Key Responsibilities * Architecture & API Design * Own end-to-end API architecture (REST/GraphQL), including resource modeling, error schemas, versioning, and contract testing.

* Design domain-driven microservices, event-driven patterns (Kafka/SNS/SQS), and distributed workflows.

* Define integration patterns (webhooks, event streaming, async queues, CDC) and Backend-for-Frontend (BFF) layers.

* Delivery & Engineering * Build Java 17+ / Spring Boot services with JPA/Hibernate, Spring Security, WebFlux, and Resilience4j.

* Establish and enforce API standards (OpenAPI/Swagger), SDK generation, and automated testing.

* Cloud & DevOps (AWS) * Architect and operate workloads using ECS, EKS, Lambda, API Gateway, Route 53, RDS/Aurora, DynamoDB, and Redis.

* Implement secure CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions/Azure DevOps/Jenkins) and IaC (Terraform/CloudFormation). * Drive observability with distributed tracing, structured logging, metrics, and SLOs.

* Leadership & Collaboration * Mentor engineers, lead design/code reviews, and foster engineering excellence.

* Collaborate with Product, Architecture, and Security teams on roadmaps and prioritization.

* Champion documentation: API specs, runbooks, postmortems, and playbooks.

Required Qualifications * 8+ years of professional software engineering experience; 3+ years architecting cloud-native services on AWS.

* Expertise in Java 11+/17, Spring Boot, REST, JSON, OpenAPI, and asynchronous messaging (SNS/SQS/Kafka). * Strong knowledge of integration patterns, API versioning, schema evolution, and contract testing.

* Proficiency in SQL (PostgreSQL/MySQL/Aurora), NoSQL (DynamoDB/DocumentDB), and caching (Redis). * Skilled in CI/CD, IaC, Docker, and container orchestration (ECS/EKS). * Solid observability and performance tuning experience.

* Security-first mindset with IAM, KMS, WAF, and input validation.

* Front-end capability with React + TypeScript (or Angular). * Excellent communication and mentoring skills.

Preferred Qualifications * Experience with event-driven architectures (EventBridge/Kinesis, CDC, saga patterns). * GraphQL (Apollo/Federation), API monetization, and developer portal experience.

* Multi-account AWS strategy, service mesh (App Mesh/Istio), and Kubernetes (EKS/Helm). * Knowledge of regulated environments (PCI, SOC 2, HIPAA) and data privacy (GDPR, PII). Salary and Other Compensation: The annual salary for this position is between $95,000 - $140,000 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