Senior Engineering Leader

Cognizant; Chennai; Hybrid; INR 3,000,000 - 5,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking a Senior Engineering Leader to drive scalable technology solutions across cards and payments platforms. You will lead hybrid delivery using Helm, Docker, Kafka, Tanzu K8s, and MSB, ensuring secure transactions and operational efficiency.

Responsibility includes architectural guidance, end-to-end execution, and collaboration with product, operations, and compliance to translate regulatory requirements into actionable roadmaps.

Qualifications

• 15–18 years of engineering experience delivering complex enterprise systems.
• Hands-on expertise with Helm for containerized services on Kubernetes.
• Deep experience with Docker for secure, repeatable deployments.
• Proven ability to design and operate Kafka as a high-volume messaging backbone in payments.
• Experience with Tanzu K8s or similar platforms for workload management.
• MSBI SSIS administration for data pipelines in payments domains.
• Strong Java development background for secure, performant services integrating with payment gateways.
• Domain expertise in cards and payments including transaction lifecycles, clearing, settlement, fraud.
• Hybrid model collaboration across distributed teams and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Drive end-to-end engineering execution for cards and payments platforms using Helm, Docker, Kafka, Tanzu K8s, MSB, and Java.
• Oversee microservice design and integration patterns for high-throughput payment workflows.
• Provide architectural guidance for container-based apps to ensure consistent deployment practices.
• Coordinate Kafka-based event streaming for authorization, clearing, and settlement processes.
• Manage MSBI SSIS admin activities for data extraction, transformation, and loading.
• Collaborate with product, operations, and compliance to translate regulatory and customer needs into engineering roadmaps.
• Guide teams in observability, monitoring, and alerting for Java services, Kubernetes workloads, Kafka, and MSBI packages.
• Ensure secure engineering practices for cardholder data and payments information.
• Promote hybrid work routines, documentation, and engineering workflows across onsite/remote members.
• Lead continuous improvement such as refactoring and platform upgrades to reduce technical debt.

Skills

Leadership & mentoring

Java development

Distributed systems

Architecture guidance

Observability & monitoring

Regulatory compliance collaboration

Hybrid/remote collaboration

Security practices in payments

Performance optimization

Cloud & container orchestration

Tools

Helm

Docker

Kafka

Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG)

MSB/SSIS

Job description

Job Summary

Senior Engineering Leader responsible for driving scalable technology solutions across cards and payments platforms using containerization messaging data integration and modern Java services. The role oversees hybrid model engineering delivery across Helm Docker Kafka Tanzu K8s and MSB ensuring resilient systems that support secure transactions operational efficiency and continuous improvement in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Drive end to end engineering execution for cards and payments platforms by planning coordinating and delivering robust solutions using Helm Docker Kafka Tanzu K8s MSB and Java to meet complex business transaction needs.
• Oversee design of microservices and integration patterns in Java that support high throughput card processing and payment workflows while optimizing performance reliability and maintainability for hybrid deployment environments.
• Provide architectural guidance for container based applications using Helm and Docker on Tanzu K8s to ensure consistent configuration efficient resource usage and standardized deployment practices across environments.
• Coordinate implementation of Kafka based event streaming and messaging for payment authorization clearing and settlement processes to improve resilience observability and real time transaction tracking.
• Manage MSBI SSIS admin activities for data extraction transformation and loading from card transaction systems into analytical and reporting platforms ensuring data quality security and timely availability.
• Collaborate with product operations and compliance stakeholders in cards and payments to translate regulatory risk and customer experience requirements into actionable engineering solutions and technical roadmaps.
• Guide teams in implementing observability monitoring and alerting for Java services Kubernetes workloads Kafka clusters and MSBI packages to proactively detect issues and minimize impact on payment processing.
• Ensure secure engineering practices for cardholder data and payment information by driving encryption secure configuration controlled access and adherence to relevant internal standards and industry regulations.
• Optimize hybrid work model collaboration by establishing clear communication routines documentation practices and engineering workflows that maintain productivity across onsite and remote team members.
• Coordinate continuous improvement initiatives such as refactoring performance tuning and platform upgrades across Helm charts Docker images Kafka topics Tanzu K8s clusters and MSBI SSIS solutions to reduce technical debt.
• Mentor senior engineers and architects in applying best practices for distributed systems container orchestration and data integration within the cards and payments domain to strengthen overall engineering capability.
• Align engineering outcomes with company purpose by enabling secure efficient and reliable payments experiences that support customers merchants and financial partners while contributing to broader economic activity.
• Evaluate new tools and patterns related to Kubernetes platforms event streaming and data integration that can enhance scalability resiliency and innovation in the cards and payments technology landscape.

Qualifications

• Demonstrate extensive experience of fifteen to eighteen years in engineering roles delivering complex enterprise systems with significant exposure to transaction intensive financial platforms.
• Possess strong hands on expertise using Helm for configuration management and release orchestration of containerized services deployed on Kubernetes based infrastructure.
• Apply deep practical skills in Docker for building packaging and running secure and efficient application images that support modular and repeatable deployments across environments.
• Show advanced experience implementing and operating Kafka clusters for high volume event streaming and messaging in payment processing authorization and settlement flows.
• Utilize comprehensive knowledge of Tanzu K8s or similar Kubernetes platforms to manage workloads namespaces scaling strategies and cluster configurations for mission critical services.
• Bring proven proficiency in MSBI admin including job scheduling package management performance optimization and troubleshooting for data pipelines related to cards and payments.
• Exhibit strong Java development experience in designing and implementing secure performant and maintainable services that integrate with payment gateways card networks and internal systems.
• Demonstrate deep domain expertise in cards and payments covering transaction lifecycles clearing and settlement fraud and risk considerations and customer experience impacts to guide technical decisions.
• Work effectively in a hybrid model by managing time communication and collaboration tools to maintain productivity and alignment within distributed engineering and stakeholder teams.
• Communicate clearly with cross functional partners including business operations risk and compliance to ensure engineering solutions meet regulatory expectations and service level objectives.
• Adapt to evolving technology and regulatory landscapes in payments by continuously updating skills exploring new approaches and applying learning to improve platforms and processes.