Consulting Principal, AI-Led Mainframe Modernization

Cognizant; Denver (CO); Remote; USD 165,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) plan

Employee stock purchase plan

Employee assistance program

Paid holidays & PTO

Parental leave & fertility aid

Learning and development programs

Job summary

Cognizant Consulting in the United States is seeking a Consulting Principal, AI-Led Mainframe Modernization to lead large-scale legacy transformations from discovery to cloud migration.

You will apply generative AI and AI-enabled engineering to define strategies, architect target-state solutions, and deliver modernization programs while collaborating with executives, architects, and AI/ML teams.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of hands-on mainframe experience including COBOL, JCL, VSAM, DB2, CICS, IMS, and/or Assembler, with Technical Lead or Architect roles on modernization programs.
• End-to-end modernization experience beyond advisory, including code conversion, API enablement, data migration, cloud migration, cutover and go-live.
• Hands-on experience applying generative AI and LLM-enabled capabilities to modernization (code comprehension, rule extraction, automated conversion/refactoring, testing, estimation).
• Strong knowledge of mainframe modernization, cloud, and engineering platforms (IBM z/OS Connect, AWS Mainframe Modernization, Micro Focus/OpenText, Heirloom, Raincode; Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD; cloud platforms).
• Strong consulting and client-facing experience, including architecting complex transformations, engaging stakeholders, leading teams, managing risks, and communicating ROI of AI-enabled modernization.
• Practical experience designing and validating AI-assisted code-conversion pipelines; experience developing AI-enabled accelerators or intellectual property; understanding of cloud-native architecture and TOGAF; experience across industries like insurance, banking, healthcare, and retail.
• Certifications such as AWS/Azure/Google Cloud Architect, Azure AI Engineer, AWS AI/ML, TOGAF, or equivalent are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end mainframe modernization engagements, including discovery, assessment, target-state architecture, code and data transformation, cloud migration, cutover, and stabilization.
• Define modernization strategies and transformation roadmaps across rehost, replatform, refactor, re-architect, and replace approaches, with AI-driven portfolio analysis and solution design.
• Apply generative AI and AI-enabled engineering solutions to accelerate code comprehension, conversion, documentation, testing, and engineering productivity.
• Provide architecture and technical governance throughout the transformation lifecycle, including modernization patterns, cloud-native architecture, AI tool selection, responsible-AI guardrails, human-in-the-loop validation, and QA of AI-generated code.
• Advance AI-led modernization capabilities by developing reusable accelerators/IP, mentoring teams, supporting client workshops, and contributing to thought leadership and go-to-market initiatives.

Skills

Mainframe modernization

AI-enabled modernization

Cloud-native architecture

Client-facing / consulting

Roadmap & governance

Tools

IBM z/OS Connect

AWS Mainframe Modernization

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD

TOGAF

Job description

About Cognizant Consulting

Cognizant Consulting is more than Cognizant’s consulting practice. We’re a global community of 5,000+ experts dedicated to helping clients reimagine their business. Blending our deep industry and technology advisory capability, we create innovative business solutions for Fortune 500 clients. And now, we’re looking for our next colleague who’ll join us in shaping the future of business. Could it be you?

About the role

As a Consulting Principal, AI-Led Mainframe Modernization , you will make an impact by leading complex mainframe transformation engagements and applying generative AI and AI-enabled engineering capabilities to accelerate modernization from discovery through cloud migration and stabilization.

You will work collaboratively with client executives, enterprise architects, business and technology leaders, engineering teams, and AI/ML professionals to define modernization strategies, architect target-state solutions, and deliver large-scale legacy transformation programs.

In this role, you will:

• Lead end-to-end mainframe modernization engagements , including discovery, application and infrastructure assessment, inventory and dependency analysis, target-state architecture, code and data transformation, cloud migration, cutover, and stabilization.

• Define modernization strategies and transformation roadmaps across rehost, replatform, refactor, re-architect, and replace approaches, incorporating AI-driven portfolio analysis, complexity assessment, estimation, and solution design.

• Apply generative AI and AI-enabled engineering solutions such as GitHub Copilot, Azure OpenAI, Amazon Q, Claude, ChatGPT, code translators, and rule-extraction capabilities to accelerate code comprehension, conversion, documentation, testing, and engineering productivity.

• Provide architecture and technical governance throughout the transformation lifecycle, including modernization patterns, cloud-native architecture, AI tool selection, responsible-AI guardrails, human-in-the-loop validation, and quality assurance of AI-generated code.

• Advance AI-led modernization capabilities by developing reusable accelerators and intellectual property, mentoring consulting and engineering teams, supporting client workshops and solutioning, and contributing to thought leadership and go-to-market initiatives.

Work model

We strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a remote position open to qualified applicants in the United States with some travel involved. 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 must have to be considered

• 12+ years of hands‑on experience with mainframe applications and technologies , including COBOL, JCL, VSAM, DB2, CICS, IMS, and/or Assembler, with experience serving as a Technical Lead or Architect on complex modernization programs.

• Proven track record delivering end-to-end mainframe modernization , beyond advisory and assessment, including code conversion, application decomposition, API enablement, data migration, cloud migration, cutover, and go-live.

• Hands‑on experience applying generative AI and LLM-enabled capabilities to modernization , including code comprehension, business-rule extraction, automated code conversion/refactoring, documentation, test generation, and AI-assisted estimation.

• Strong knowledge of mainframe modernization, cloud, and engineering platforms , including technologies such as IBM z/OS Connect, AWS Mainframe Modernization, Micro Focus/OpenText, Heirloom, Raincode, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD, microservices, middleware, and at least one major cloud platform such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud.

• Strong consulting and client-facing experience, including the ability to architect complex transformation solutions, engage senior client stakeholders, lead cross-functional teams, manage technical risks, and communicate the business value and ROI of AI-enabled modernization.

These will help you succeed

• Practical experience designing and validating AI-assisted code conversion pipelines , including prompt engineering, LLM evaluation, accuracy benchmarking, AI output-quality controls, responsible-AI practices, and human-in-the-loop validation.

• Experience developing or scaling AI-enabled modernization accelerators or intellectual property , including inventory analyzers, code translators, business-rule extraction engines, test‑case generators, or modernization workbenches.

• Strong understanding of cloud-native architecture, application portfolio rationalization, DevOps, MLOps, containerization, microservices, service mesh, and enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF .

• Experience delivering complex modernization engagements across industries such as insurance, banking and financial services, healthcare, and retail , working across business SMEs, architects, developers, DevOps, and AI/ML engineering teams.

• Relevant certifications such as AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect, Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect, Azure AI Engineer, AWS AI/ML certifications, TOGAF, or equivalent credentials .

Compensation

$165,000-$194,000

This position is eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans. The U.S. template identifies compensation as mandatory where required by state law.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

• 401(k) plan and contributions

• Employee stock purchase plan

• Employee assistance program

• 10 paid holidays plus PTO

• Paid parental leave and fertility assistance

• Learning and development certifications and programs

Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.