Job Information
Cognizant Java Full Stack Technical Lead in Plano, Texas
Java Full Stack Technical Lead
About the Role
We’re seeking a hands-on Java Full Stack Technical Lead who can architect, build, and scale API-first platforms and integrations. You’ll lead design and delivery of high-volume APIs, craft cloud-native microservices on AWS, and guide teams on best practices for reliability, security, and observability. This role blends deep back-end expertise (Java, Spring) with front-end fundamentals (React/TypeScript) to deliver end-to-end features and integration experiences.
*Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*
Key Responsibilities
Architecture & API Design
· Own end-to-end API architecture (REST/GraphQL), including resource modeling, error schemas, versioning strategy and contract testing.
· Design domain-aligned microservices (DDD), event-driven patterns (Kafka/SNS/SQS) and distributed workflows.
· Define integration patterns (webhooks, event streaming, async queues, batch, CDC) and BFF (Backend-for-Frontend) layers for client needs.
· Delivery & Engineering
· Build Java 17+ / Spring Boot services; implement JPA/Hibernate, Spring Security, WebFlux, and Resilience4j for reliability.
· Establish and enforce API standards (OpenAPI/Swagger), linting, and SDK generation where appropriate.
Cloud & DevOps (AWS)
· Architect, implement, and operate workloads on AWS:
· Compute: ECS/Fargate, EKS, Lambda
· Networking: VPC, ALB/NLB, PrivateLink, API Gateway, Route 53
· Data: RDS/Aurora, DynamoDB, ElastiCache/Redis, S3, OpenSearch
· Integration: SNS/SQS, EventBridge, Step Functions, Kinesis
· Security: IAM, KMS, Secrets Manager, WAF, Shield, Cognito/OIDC
· Build secure CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions/Azure DevOps/Jenkins), IaC with Terraform/CloudFormation, and implement blue/green or canary deployments with automated rollbacks.
· Implement observability: distributed tracing, structured logging, metrics and SLOs via CloudWatch/Prometheus/Grafana.
Leadership & Collaboration
· Mentor engineers, lead code/design reviews, and foster engineering excellence.
· Collaborate with Product, Architecture, and Security on roadmaps, discovery, and prioritization.
· Champion documentation: API specs, runbooks, postmortems, and playbooks.
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 2-3 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in Plano, TX. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs.
*Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*
Required Qualifications
· 10+ years professional software engineering experience; 3+ years architecting cloud-native services on AWS.
· Expert in Java 11+/17, Spring Boot, REST, JSON, OpenAPI, and asynchronous messaging (SNS/SQS/Kafka).
· Strong with integration patterns (sync/async), API versioning, backwards compatibility, schema evolution, and contract testing (Pact/WireMock).
· Proficient with SQL (PostgreSQL/MySQL/Aurora) and at least one NoSQL (DynamoDB/DocumentDB); caching with Redis.
· Proficient in CI/CD, IaC (Terraform/CloudFormation), Docker, and container orchestration (ECS/EKS).
· Solid observability (logs, metrics, traces) and performance tuning (JVM, DB, API latency, throughput).
· Security-first mindset: IAM, KMS, Secrets Manager, WAF, CORS, CSP, input validation.
· Front-end capability with React + TypeScript (or Angular), including state mgmt (Redux/RTK/React Query), routing, and component design.
· Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and mentoring skills.
Preferred Qualifications
· Event-driven architectures with EventBridge/Kinesis, CDC (Debezium), and saga patterns (Step Functions/temporal-like orchestration).
· GraphQL (Apollo/Federation) and BFF patterns; API monetization and developer portal experience.
· Multi-account AWS strategy, landing zones, network segmentation, and service mesh (App Mesh/Istio).
· Kubernetes (EKS), Helm, service autoscaling, pod disruption budgets, and cost optimization (Graviton/Spot).
· Experience in regulated environments (PCI, SOC 2, HIPAA) and data privacy (PII, GDPR).
Tools & Tech Stack (Example)
· Back End: Java 17, Spring Boot, Spring Cloud, WebFlux, JPA/Hibernate, Resilience4j
· APIs: REST, GraphQL, OpenAPI/Swagger, Pact
· Messaging & Events: Kafka/SNS/SQS, EventBridge, Kinesis
· Data: PostgreSQL/Aurora, DynamoDB, Redis, S3, OpenSearch
· Front End: React 18, TypeScript, Vite/Webpack, Jest, Cypress/Playwright
· DevOps & Cloud: AWS (ECS/EKS/Lambda, API Gateway, ALB, Route 53, CloudFront), Docker, Terraform/CloudFormation, Jenkins, CloudWatch, Grafana/Prometheus
Additional Information
We welcome applicants who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Even if you don’t meet every listed requirement, we encourage you to apply. Consider your transferable experience and unique skills that may bring fresh perspective to the role.
Salary and Other Compensation
Applications will be accepted until April 12th, 2026 .
The annual salary for this position ranges from $90,000 – $130,000 , depending on experience and qualifications.
This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to applicable plan terms.
Benefits
Cognizant offers the following benefits for this role (subject to eligibility):
• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Paid Holidays & Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan with contributions
• Long‑term/Short‑term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Disclaimer
The salary, benefits, and compensation information listed above is accurate as of the posting date. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, in accordance with applicable law.
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.