Application Engineering Lead

EXL; Stamford (CT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

EXL is seeking a Business Systems Analyst to own and optimize enterprise applications, collaborating with IT Helpdesk, Cyber Security, and IT Audit. You will manage day-to-day operations, drive enhancements, lead UAT, and ensure data quality while coordinating access and controls with stakeholders.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years of end-to-end experience in business systems, strong communication, and familiarity with SDLC, QA, and vendor coordination.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience as a Business Systems Analyst or similar with end-to-end ownership of enterprise business systems.
• Experience leading small projects or enhancements using Waterfall, Agile, or hybrid methodologies.
• Solid understanding of SDLC, QA, UAT, and system integration best practices.
• Experience collaborating with IT Helpdesk, Cyber Security, and IT Audit on access management and SOX evidence is desirable.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to translate business requirements into technical specs.

Responsibilities

• Application Ownership: Serve as the subject matter expert for applications, document current- and future-state processes, improve data quality.
• Project and Enhancement Delivery: Own the delivery of enhancements and small projects, aligning with priorities and timelines.
• UAT: Lead UAT activities, coordinate defect resolution, secure final business approval before implementation.
• Application Administration: Manage access provisioning with IT Helpdesk, validate user access roles with stakeholders, track requests.
• Application Support and Operations: Provide Level 2 support, triage tickets, coordinate escalations for outages, main contact for dev teams.
• Compliance and Risk Management: Partner with Cyber Security on risk remediation and with IT Audit for SOX evidence.
• Training and Documentation: Develop user guides, run training workshops, cross-train support staff.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve usability, efficiency, data quality, and processes.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Requirements gathering

Project coordination

Waterfall/Agile

UAT

SDLC knowledge

Communication

Tools

.NET/C#

Java

Job description

Partner with client stakeholders to understand business operations and translate operational needs into well-defined technology solutions. The role extends beyond traditional requirements gathering, with responsibility for the day-to-day ownership of enterprise applications, serving as a first line of support for stakeholders, partnering with IT Helpdesk, Cyber Security, and IT Audit on application operations, and driving initiatives to closure with strong project management discipline.

Operating in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, the successful candidate will demonstrate composure under pressure, strong active listening skills, and the interpersonal awareness required to engage effectively with stakeholders across business operations, partnerships, sales and marketing, and live events.

Responsibilities:

• Application Ownership: Serve as the subject matter expert for applications within the business systems portfolio, documenting current- and future-state processes, identifying opportunities to simplify business and technical workflows, and actively improving data quality.
• Project and Enhancement Delivery: Own the delivery of enhancements and small projects, ensuring alignment with business priorities, timelines, and stakeholder expectations.
• User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Lead UAT activities to ensure thorough testing of application bug fixes and enhancements, coordinate defect resolution, and secure final business approval before implementation.
• Application Administration: Manage or coordinate access provisioning with the IT Helpdesk, validate appropriate user access roles with business stakeholders, and track access requests through completion.
• Application Support and Operations: Own day-to-day operational support processes, provide Level 2 application support, triage help desk tickets, coordinate escalations for system failures or outages, and serve as the primary point of contact for development teams.
• Compliance and Risk Management: Partner with Cyber Security on risk remediation activities and collaborate with IT Audit to maintain documentation and evidence for applications subject to SOX compliance requirements.
• Training and Documentation: Develop and maintain user guides, facilitate training workshops, and cross-train help desk and other support colleagues to strengthen application support capabilities.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve application usability, operational efficiency, data quality, and overall business process effectiveness.

Requirements:

• 5+ years of experience as a Business Systems Analyst, Business Analyst, Application Analyst, or in a comparable role, with end-to-end ownership of enterprise business systems, including requirements gathering, application maintenance and configuration, application support, and vendor coordination.
• Hands-on experience leading small projects or business enhancements using Waterfall, Agile, or hybrid methodologies, including requirements gathering, user story creation, backlog refinement, and defining statements of work for vendor-delivered implementations.
• Solid understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), quality assurance, user acceptance testing, and system integration best practices.
• Experience collaborating with IT Helpdesk, Cyber Security, and IT Audit teams on access management, risk remediation, and SOX compliance evidence is highly desirable.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate business requirements into clear technical specifications.
• Demonstrated stakeholder management, problem-solving, prioritization, and project coordination skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and manage multiple priorities.
• Experience in the media, sports, entertainment, or live events industry is strongly preferred.
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Project Management Professional (PMP), or an equivalent certification is preferred.
• Hands-on experience with .NET (C#) or JAVA application development, including understanding application code, debugging and working with development teams on enhancements, bug fixes and releases, is preferred.