Job Information
Cognizant Sr. program manager - Cloud platform in Chennai, India
Senior Program Manager (Cloud Platform & Application Engineering | Professional Services)
Role Summary
The Senior Program Manager (Cloud Platform & Application Engineering) is a client-facing Professional Services delivery leader responsible for managing large-scale cloud platform and application engineering programs for external enterprise customers. The role operates under SOW-based, customer-funded delivery models and requires strong program governance, delivery discipline, and external stakeholder management. Hands-on technical execution is not required; however, the role demands a solid functional understanding of cloud platforms, application engineering, and modernization practices.
Role Positioning
Senior Program / Delivery Manager within Professional Services
No direct people management responsibility
Accountability for contractual, financial, and delivery outcomes
Working technical understanding across cloud and application engineering domains
Mentors delivery teams through influence and best practices
Mandatory Background Requirements
Professional Services / Consulting / Systems Integration background (mandatory)
Experience delivering customer-facing cloud platform and application engineering programs
Experience working with SOW-driven delivery models (fixed price, T&M, milestone-based)
Pre-sales or SOW readiness exposure preferred
Strong external customer stakeholder management experience
2 to 3 Tech stacks to cover (professional services perspective)
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) & DevSecOps
Enterprise Management Stack & Observability
Container Platforms
High Performance Computing (HPC)
Public Cloud Services
Azure Hybrid Services
Application Modernization & Migration
Database Modernization & Migration
Application Packaging & Operations
Key Responsibilities
- Professional Services Program Delivery
Owns end-to-end program delivery for cloud platform and application engineering engagements. Manages scope, schedule, cost, quality, and risk aligned to SOW commitments and coordinates multiple parallel workstreams.
- Pre-Sales Support & SOW Readiness
Supports pre-sales activities prior to SOW sign-off by reviewing delivery approaches, validating estimates and timelines, identifying dependencies, risks, and assumptions, and ensuring sales-to-delivery continuity.
- Financial & Commercial Governance
Manages program-level financial tracking including budget vs actuals, billing milestones, forecasting accuracy, burn rate management, and scope/change control in accordance with Professional Services governance.
- External Stakeholder & Ecosystem Management
Acts as the primary delivery interface for customer stakeholders and delivery partners. Leads governance forums, status and risk reviews, escalation management, and communicates progress and outcomes in business-focused language.
- Team Coordination & Mentorship
Coordinates internal, partner, and subcontractor delivery teams without direct reporting authority. Mentors project managers and technical leads on planning rigor, execution discipline, and customer engagement best practices.
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree (any discipline)
15+ years of Professional Services delivery project management experience
PMP certification (mandatory)
Agile / Scrum certification preferred
ITIL Foundation or Cloud fundamentals certifications preferred
Technical Knowledge Expectations
Working-level understanding of IaC and DevSecOps practices, container platforms, public cloud and Azure hybrid architectures, application and database modernization concepts, enterprise observability, and unified communications. Able to assess dependencies, risks, and delivery trade-offs without hands-on implementation responsibility.
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.