Associate Director — Quality Engineering (Healthcare Payer and Facets)

About Role:

We are seeking an Associate Director — Quality Engineering to lead enterprise testing delivery across complex Healthcare Payer and TriZetto Facets transformation programs. In this leadership role, you will own multi-program QA outcomes, drive executive quality governance with client and Cognizant stakeholders, and modernize testing operations by integrating GenAI technologies (Azure OpenAI, Claude) and scalable automation strategies across the SDLC.

In this role, you will

• Own Enterprise testing and quality engineering delivery , ensuring quality, schedule, governance, and testing outcomes across multiple programs and workstreams.

• Lead quality governance with client and Cognizant leadership , reviewing testing and upstream quality metrics, identifying trends/root causes, and driving measurable continuous improvement across SDLC phases.

• Define, monitor, and report testing KPIs and quality metrics to senior leadership , highlighting risks, dependencies, quality trends, corrective actions, and improvement opportunities.

• Drive test automation strategy, coverage, adoption, and leverage , including implementation of QE best practices, GenAI-enabled testing opportunities, and continuous optimization of testing processes.

• Participate in work intake, prioritization, demand planning, and test estimation , with accountability for reviewing and approving test effort estimates and ensuring appropriate test coverage.

• Partner with Program, Product, Development, Architecture, Business, and QE stakeholders to proactively manage delivery risks, dependencies, defect prevention, and release readiness .

• Facilitate weekly governance, quality reviews, lessons-learned sessions, and continuous improvement initiatives , ensuring actions are tracked through closure.

• Support client relationship management and business growth , including solutioning, RFP/proposal contributions, presentations, and identification of opportunities for QE transformation and innovation.

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 Teaneck, NJ or Plano, TX location. 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:

Must Have Skills: Healthcare Payer, Facets, GenAI/Azure OpenAI/Claude.

• Overall 18+ years of strong experience in Quality Engineering / Software Testing leadership, with demonstrated accountability for large-scale testing delivery in complex enterprise programs.

• Extensive Healthcare Payer domain knowledge , with strong understanding of payer business processes such as Membership/Enrollment, Claims, Billing, Provider, and related healthcare operations.

• Strong functional/domain knowledge of TriZetto Facets , including experience leading testing for Facets-based healthcare payer implementations, enhancements, or transformation programs.

• Strong expertise in test strategy, estimation, quality metrics, defect management, test automation, release readiness, and continuous quality improvement across the SDLC.

• Proven experience in client management and senior stakeholder management , including executive governance, reporting, risk management, and driving cross-functional decisions.

• Experience defining and driving automation and modern Quality Engineering practices , improving automation coverage, productivity, quality, and speed-to-market.

• Working knowledge of GenAI technologies such as Azure OpenAI and Claude , with the ability to identify and drive practical GenAI use cases within Quality Engineering and software delivery.

• Experience contributing to RFPs, proposals, solutioning, effort estimation, and business development , with excellent communication, presentation, leadership, and client-facing skills.

We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role.

Total compensation:

We regularly assess market data to ensure we offer a competitive compensation package for our associates. The base salary for this position ranges between USD 150,000 – 200,000 per year. Where the successful candidate may fall within the range depends on relevant education, work and/or management experience and other business-related and job-necessary qualifications. This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual performance-based bonus, as well as benefits that support your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

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.