Architect

Cognizant; Chennai District; Hybrid; INR 1,800,000 - 2,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking an experienced data architect for a hybrid role to design scalable data ecosystems, enable secure data access, and support business decisions with reliable, enterprise-grade platforms.

You will model data, implement virtualization and integration patterns, establish governance and DevOps practices, and guide teams toward maintainable, compliant data solutions.

This is a collaborative role requiring clear communication with stakeholders across analytics, IT, and business units.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in designing enterprise data architectures for analytics platforms, data warehouses and data lakes.
• Strong hands-on SQL including query optimization, data modeling and performance tuning.
• Proven experience with data virtualization tools enabling unified access to heterogeneous sources.
• Background in data integration technologies covering batch, streaming and API-based movement.
• Experience with DevOps or DataOps, including automation of deployment, testing and monitoring.
• Experience implementing data catalogs to support metadata, lineage and governance.
• Understanding of data governance, privacy and security principles and applying them to secure platforms.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills in a hybrid work model.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain an enterprise data architecture aligned with organizational strategy.
• Develop data models and standards for consistent data across platforms.
• Implement data virtualization to unify access to diverse sources.
• Create SQL-based solutions to optimize performance for analytics.
• Define data integration patterns for batch and real-time data flows.
• Establish DevOps practices for automated deployment, testing and monitoring.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business requirements into data solutions.
• Develop and manage data catalog structures for discovery and lineage.
• Implement data governance and security controls for compliance.
• Optimize data pipelines balancing performance, cost, and sustainability.
• Mentor teams on data architecture patterns and best practices.
• Perform impact analysis for changes to data structures.

Skills

Data architecture

SQL

Data virtualization

Data integration

DevOps

Data catalog

Governance security

Job description

Job Summary

This hybrid role requires an experienced architect with deep expertise in data architecture data virtualization data catalog management DevOps practices SQL and data integration. The architect will design scalable data ecosystems enable secure and compliant data access and support business decision making through reliable data platforms aligned with enterprise strategy.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain a comprehensive enterprise data architecture that aligns with organizational strategy and supports long term scalability and resilience
• Develop robust data models and standards that ensure consistency accuracy and usability of data across analytical and operational platforms
• Implement data virtualization solutions that provide unified access to diverse data sources while minimizing data movement and duplication
• Create efficient SQL based solutions that optimize query performance support complex analytics and improve time to insight for business teams
• Define and implement data integration patterns that support batch and real time data flows while maintaining reliability and data quality
• Establish DevOps practices for data platforms that automate deployment testing and monitoring to improve delivery speed and platform stability
• Collaborate with cross functional stakeholders to translate business requirements into practical data solutions that deliver measurable value
• Develop and manage data catalog structures that enhance data discovery stewardship and trust through clear definitions and lineage
• Implement data governance and security controls that protect sensitive information and ensure compliance with regulatory and organizational standards
• Optimize data pipelines and platform resources to balance performance cost efficiency and sustainability objectives for the organization
• Guide teams in adopting best practices for data design coding standards and documentation to improve maintainability and knowledge sharing
• Perform impact analysis for changes to data structures and integration flows to reduce risk and ensure continuity of critical business processes
• Mentor peers on modern data architecture patterns to build organizational capability and support a culture of continuous improvement

Qualifications

• Possess extensive experience in designing enterprise data architectures that support analytics platforms data warehouses and data lakes
• Demonstrate strong hands on expertise in SQL including query optimization data modeling and performance tuning in complex environments
• Show proven experience with data virtualization tools and concepts enabling unified access to heterogeneous data sources
• Bring solid background in data integration technologies covering batch streaming and API based data movement with focus on reliability
• Exhibit practical experience with DevOps or data ops practices including automation of deployment testing and monitoring of data solutions
• Have experience implementing and managing data catalog solutions that support metadata management data lineage and governance processes
• Understand data governance privacy and security principles and apply them to design compliant and secure data platforms
• Display strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with technical and non technical stakeholders in a hybrid work model

Certifications Required

Preferred certifications include data engineering or architecture credentials such as Azure Data Engineer Associate or Google Professional Data Engineer