Lead Data Engineer | Azure Databricks and PySpark

Cognizant; Las Vegas (NV); On-site; USD 120,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

Paid holidays plus PTO

401(k) plan and contributions

Long-term/Short-term Disability

Paid Parental Leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking a Lead Data Engineer to design and build scalable data pipelines using Azure Databricks, Spark, and PySpark. You’ll lead end-to-end data engineering solutions from design through production, optimizing workloads for performance, reliability, and cost.

You will mentor engineers, establish coding standards, and collaborate with architects, product teams, and stakeholders to turn data into actionable insights in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 13+ years of total experience with DW space.
• 5+ years hands-on Azure Databricks experience.
• Deep expertise in Spark / PySpark, Python, and SQL.
• Experience building large-scale ETL/ELT data pipelines.
• Strong understanding of data modeling and distributed data processing.
• Experience with performance tuning and Databricks cluster optimization.
• Knowledge of Delta Lake, ADLS, Unity Catalog, CI/CD, and Azure DevOps is a plus.
• Strong communication skills and ability to mentor teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and build scalable data pipelines using Azure Databricks, Spark, and PySpark.
• Lead end-to-end data engineering solutions from design through production.
• Optimize Spark workloads, clusters, and jobs for performance, reliability, and cost.
• Integrate data from multiple sources into analytics-ready datasets.
• Build strong data quality, monitoring, and validation into every pipeline.
• Establish coding standards, reusable frameworks, and engineering best practices.
• Partner with architects, product teams, and business stakeholders to solve data challenges.
• Mentor engineers through design reviews, code reviews, and technical guidance.
• Explore new Databricks and Spark capabilities and bring best ideas into production.

Skills

Azure Databricks

Spark

PySpark

Python

SQL

Data modeling

CI/CD

Azure DevOps

Tools

Delta Lake

ADLS

Unity Catalog

Job description

Ready to build data platforms that actually make an impact? We’re looking for a hands‑on Lead Data Engineer who loves solving complex data problems and building scalable solutions with Azure Databricks, Spark, and PySpark. You’ll lead the design and development of high‑performance data pipelines, help shape engineering best practices, and work with teams across the business to turn data into meaningful insights.

What You’ll Do

• Design and build scalable data pipelines using Azure Databricks, Spark, and PySpark
• Lead end-to-end data engineering solutions from design through production
• Optimize Spark workloads, clusters, and jobs for performance, reliability, and cost
• Integrate data from multiple sources into trusted, analytics‑ready datasets
• Build strong data quality, monitoring, and validation into every pipeline
• Establish coding standards, reusable frameworks, and engineering best practices
• Partner with architects, product teams, and business stakeholders to solve real‑world data challenges
• Mentor engineers through design reviews, code reviews, and technical guidance
• Explore new Databricks and Spark capabilities and bring the best ideas into production

What We’re Looking For

Must have 13+ years of total experience with DW space.

• Strong hands‑on experience with Azure Databricks-- 5 + years-- Must have to be considered
• Deep expertise in Spark / PySpark, Python, and SQL
• Experience building large‑scale ETL/ELT data pipelines
• Strong understanding of data modeling and distributed data processing
• Experience with performance tuning and Databricks cluster optimization
• Knowledge of Delta Lake, ADLS, ADF, Unity Catalog, CI/CD, and Azure DevOps is a plus
• Strong communication skills and the ability to lead and mentor engineering teams

Bonus Points

Experience working with hospitality, travel, booking, customer, or operational data.

Exempt Roles (up to AD Level)

Note: Compensation range should extend from the minimum to P75, consistent with the job family and level.

Salary And Other Compensation

The annual salary for this position is between $120-135K 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

• 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

Disclaimer

The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable la