Senior Full Stack Java Lead Engineer

Cognizant; Jersey City (NJ); Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 137,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Coverage

Dental Coverage

Vision Coverage

401k Contributions

Paid Time Off

EAP

Wellbeing Programs

Learning & Development

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking a Senior Full Stack Java Lead Engineer in Jersey City for designing, developing, and delivering scalable enterprise applications. You will collaborate with architects, product owners, and stakeholders to build secure, high-performing solutions that meet critical business needs.

The role emphasizes leadership, SDLC discipline, AI-assisted tooling, and data-driven improvements, with hybrid work (3 days onsite, 2 remote) to balance delivery and collaboration.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of software engineering experience with Java-based enterprise apps.
• Strong Java, Spring Boot, SQL, and front-end React experience.
• Experience with enterprise design, testing, and deployment.
• Familiarity with cloud-based development and modern architectures.
• Knowledge of Agile, CI/CD, resiliency, and secure development practices.
• Experience using AI-assisted development tools and validating outputs.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills across teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, testing, and deployment of enterprise apps using Java, Spring Boot, SQL, and front-end tech.
• Develop secure, high-quality production code and maintain critical business applications.
• Produce architecture and design artifacts for complex apps.
• Utilize AI-assisted development tools to improve quality, testing, and speed.
• Analyze large data sets to identify trends and issues.
• Apply SDLC best practices including CI/CD, automation, resiliency, and security.
• Mentor teams and promote engineering excellence.
• Independently lead modules and provide technical direction.

Skills

Java

Spring Boot

SQL

React

CI/CD

Cloud-based development

Agile methodologies

AI-assisted tools

Leadership

Job description

About the Role

As a Senior Full Stack Java Lead Engineer, you will make an impact by designing, developing, and delivering scalable enterprise applications that support critical business operations. You will be a valued member of the engineering team and work collaboratively with architects, product owners, developers, and business stakeholders to build secure, high-performing, and resilient solutions.

In This Role, You Will:

• Lead the design, development, testing, and deployment of enterprise applications using Java, Spring Boot, SQL, and modern front-end technologies.
• Develop secure, high-quality production code and maintain software solutions that support business-critical applications.
• Produce architecture and design artifacts for complex applications and ensure development aligns with established engineering standards.
• Utilize enterprise-authorized AI-assisted development tools to improve code quality, testing, documentation, and delivery speed while ensuring accuracy, security, and compliance.
• Analyze and interpret large data sets to identify trends, uncover hidden issues, and drive continuous improvements in applications and systems.
• Apply modern Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) practices, including CI/CD, automation, resiliency, and security best practices.
• Mentor engineering teams, contribute to technical communities of practice, and promote innovation through emerging technologies and engineering excellence.
• Independently lead modules and provide technical direction to development teams to ensure successful project delivery.

Work Model

We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role's business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 3 days per week onsite in Jersey City, New Jersey, and 2 days remote work.

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 Need to Have to Be Considered

• 8+ years of overall software engineering experience with a strong focus on Java-based enterprise application development.
• Strong experience developing enterprise applications using Java, Spring Boot, and SQL.
• Hands-on experience building modern web applications with React and related front-end technologies.
• Proven experience with system design, application development, testing, and operational stability.
• Experience developing, debugging, and maintaining applications in large-scale enterprise environments.
• Knowledge of cloud-based application development and modern software architectures.
• Strong understanding of Agile methodologies, CI/CD pipelines, application resiliency, and secure software development practices.
• Experience using AI-assisted software development tools and validating AI-generated outputs for quality, performance, and security.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and leadership skills with the ability to collaborate across technical and business teams.

These Will Help You Stand Out

• Prior experience leading technical teams and mentoring software engineers.
• Knowledge of AI-enabled engineering practices and software delivery automation.
• Experience building scalable, resilient, and highly available enterprise applications.
• Strong understanding of software architecture patterns and cloud-native solutions.
• Experience working within financial services, banking, or highly regulated industries.

Applications Will Be Accepted By

October 9, 2026

Salary and Other Compensation

The annual salary for this position is expected to be between $81,337 and $136,500 per year, depending on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors.

Benefits

Cognizant offers the following benefits, subject to eligibility requirements:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
• Life Insurance and Disability Coverage
• 401(k) Plan with Company Contributions
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Wellbeing and Mental Health Programs
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Employee Recognition Programs

Work Authorization

Please note that this position is not eligible for visa transfer or sponsorship now or at any time in the future.