Lead Data Engineer

Job Title – Lead Data Engineer

About the role

Lead Data Engineer is a senior individual contributor who serves as an engineering lead within the Technology & Data organization. This role combines deep expertise in both analytics engineering and data engineering, providing technical direction and thought leadership across teams. The Principal Data and Analytics Engineer mentors and supports analytics and data engineers, conducts code reviews, and sets high standards for technical quality. Leading through influence rather than direct authority, this position requires exceptional technical skills and the ability to guide and elevate others

In this role, you will:

Conceptual and Analytical Modeling: Design, test, and maintain both conceptual and analytical data models, including logical, physical, and dimensional (star/snowflake) schemas, to support business analytics and reporting, optimize performance through partitioning and indexing, and ensure quality and consistency via SQL best practices and peer code reviews.

Data Pipeline Orchestration and Development : Design, build, and optimize scalable, maintainable, and resilient end-to-end ETL/ELT data pipelines. Leverage orchestration tools for scheduling, dependency management, and error handling, while extracting and transforming data from source systems. Utilize platforms like dbt to ensure robust data flow, conduct UAT, and manage code releases for reliable system performance. Mastery of SQL skills

DevOps & Code Management: Skilled in version control systems for collaborative development and code management (i.e Azure DevOps, GitHub) • Monitoring & Observability: Implementing logging, metrics, and alerting for data pipelines

Strong Communication and Collaboration Skills: Collaborate with analysts, analytics and data engineers, and solution architects to align data solutions with strategic goals. Communicate effectively across technical and non-technical teams.

Agile Mindset: Actively participate in agile ceremonies and contribute to sprint goals. Apply agile principles to respond to change, iterate quickly, and continuously improve team processes and product outcomes.

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 Oak park Heights, MN. 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."

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

• Data Build Tool, Snowflake, Advanced Data Modelling experts

• Secondary Skills – Fivetran

• Excellent communication skills

Salary and Other Compensation :

Applications will be accepted until October 30, 2026.

The annual salary for this position is between $81,000 - $140,000 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: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• 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.

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.