Test Lead – Data Validation & Integration Testing

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation; Alpharetta (GA); Hybrid; USD 71,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

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

Job summary

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation invites an experienced Test Lead - Data Validation & Integration Testing to guide end-to-end testing for complex enterprise payments and customer service ecosystems. The role emphasizes data integrity, API and integration testing, and hands-on validation across multiple platforms.

The ideal candidate will lead test planning, coordinate on onsite/offshore teams, and mentor Agile delivery squads while advancing automation with modern frameworks and CI/CD

Qualifications

• Experience in backend data validation, SQL querying, and data reconciliation in testing environments.
• Expertise in integration testing and data synchronization across enterprise applications.
• Hands-on REST/SOAP API testing with Postman, SoapUI, or similar tools.
• Solid understanding of ISO 8583 formats and payment processing protocols.
• Experience in packet/protocol testing and data transmission validation.
• Proficiency in automation with Selenium, Playwright, Cucumber/BDD, REST Assured, or Robot Framework.
• Knowledge of CI/CD tools, microservices, Kafka, Git, Jenkins; strong log analysis skills.
• Strong troubleshooting and Agile testing experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end testing activities, including test planning, execution, reporting, and defect management.
• Coordinate with onsite and offshore teams to ensure test alignment.
• Perform backend data validation, source-to-target reconciliation, and data synchronization testing.
• Validate Data Lake and data-processing workflows using SQL queries and data verification.
• Conduct integration, API, and web app testing with Postman, SoapUI, and Thunder Client.
• Validate payment processing using ISO 8583 standards (MTIs, bitmaps, data elements).
• Perform packet and protocol testing to ensure data integrity during transmission.
• Develop automation frameworks with Selenium, Playwright, Cucumber/BDD, REST Assured, or Robot Framework.
• Support CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins and Git.
• Analyze logs with Kafka, Splunk, and Argo to troubleshoot issues.

Skills

Data validation

API testing

Integration testing

Automation testing

Test leadership

SQL querying

Data reconciliation

Agile testing

CI/CD

Troubleshooting

Tools

Postman

SoapUI

Thunder Client

ISO 8583

WSDL Weaver

Soap Sonar

Selenium

Playwright

REST Assured

Robot Framework

Jenkins

Git

Kafka

Splunk

Argo

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Test Lead - Data Validation & Integration Testing to lead end-to-end testing activities for complex enterprise applications within the payments and customer service ecosystem. The ideal candidate will possess strong expertise in backend data validation, API and integration testing, payment systems, automation frameworks, and test leadership. This role requires hands-on involvement in validating data synchronization across multiple platforms, ensuring data integrity throughout the transaction lifecycle, and supporting Agile delivery teams.

In this role, you will:

• Lead end-to-end testing activities, including test planning, execution, reporting, defect management, and coordination with onsite and offshore teams.

• Perform backend data validation, source-to-target reconciliation, and data synchronization testing across customer service, payment, fraud, and downstream applications.

• Validate Data Lake and data-processing workflows using advanced SQL queries and data verification techniques.

• Conduct integration, API, and web application testing using tools such as Postman, SoapUI, and Thunder Client.

• Validate payment transaction processing using ISO 8583 standards, including MTIs, bitmaps, data elements, and payment interchange protocols.

• Perform packet and protocol testing using Soap Sonar, WSDL Weaver, or similar tools to ensure data integrity during transmission.

• Execute, maintain, and enhance automation frameworks using BDD/Cucumber, Selenium, Playwright, REST Assured, or Robot Framework, and support CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins and Git.

• Leverage Kafka, Splunk, Argo, and knowledge of microservices architectures to analyze logs, troubleshoot issues, support root-cause analysis, and ensure overall system quality in Agile environments.

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 a week in a client or Cognizant office in Alpharetta, GA. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. These may change based on the project you are engaged in, as well as evolving business and client requirements. We will always be transparent about role expectations.

What you need to have to be considered

• 10+ years of experience in backend data validation, SQL querying, and source-to-target data reconciliation in testing environment.

• Expertise in integration testing and data synchronization across enterprise applications and downstream systems.

• Hands-on experience with REST/SOAP API testing using Postman, SoapUI, Thunder Client, or similar tools.

• Solid understanding of ISO 8583 message formats, payment processing, and interchange protocols.

• Experience in packet and protocol testing, including validation of data transmission and message integrity.

• Proficiency in automation testing using Selenium, Playwright, Cucumber/BDD, REST Assured, or Robot Framework.

• Knowledge of CI/CD tools, microservices architecture, Kafka, Git, and Jenkins.

• Strong troubleshooting, defect management, log analysis (Splunk/Argo), and Agile testing experience.

Salary and Other Compensation:

The annual salary for this position is between $ 71,100 to $ 112,500 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 law.