Remote Principal — AI-Led Mainframe Modernization Architect

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

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.