Senior Software Engineer – Backend (Java)

Job Summary

As a Senior Software Engineer – Backend (Java) you will focus on designing building and optimizing secure and resilient microservices using Spring Boot Kafka SQL and the wider Spring Framework stack. The position involves hybrid work in a collaborative environment delivering high quality backend services that improve digital payment experiences and support scalable global card processing.

Roles/Responsibilities:

• Design and implement scalable Spring Boot microservices that support high volume transactions and align with enterprise engineering standards and coding best practices.
• Develop and optimize Kafka based event streaming solutions that enable reliable low latency data exchange across distributed systems and integration layers.
• Write robust JUnit5 test suites with strong coverage for unit and integration scenarios that improve code quality prevent regressions and support continuous delivery pipelines.
• Design efficient relational data models and write high quality SQL queries that ensure data integrity performance and accurate reporting for transaction processing.
• Collaborate with product owners and business analysts to refine user stories and translate complex functional requirements into clear technical designs and implementation plans.
• Integrate microservices securely with internal and external systems by applying standardized APIs authentication mechanisms and observability practices to ensure safe and traceable interactions.
• Optimize application performance by profiling services tuning JVM and database configurations and resolving bottlenecks in messaging data access and service orchestration flows.
• Contribute to code reviews and shared repositories by providing detailed constructive feedback and by adhering to clean code principles that raise overall team engineering standards.
• Support production deployments and incident resolution by analyzing logs and metrics identifying root causes and implementing durable fixes that improve service reliability.
• Create and maintain clear technical documentation that describes service contracts data schemas deployment configurations and operational run books for ongoing support.
• Coordinate effectively in a hybrid work environment by using collaboration tools participating in virtual ceremonies and maintaining transparent communication on status and risks.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of development practices by proposing enhancements to build pipelines test strategies and monitoring approaches aligned with organizational goals.
• Apply secure coding practices and compliance guidelines so that microservices handling card and payment data protect customer information and support regulatory expectations.

Qualifications

• Bring strong hands on experience in building production grade Spring Boot services and microservices using core Spring Framework modules and related ecosystem libraries.
• Demonstrate advanced practical skills in Kafka including topic design consumer group usage offset management and patterns for reliable asynchronous processing.
• Show solid proficiency in JUnit5 and related testing tools to create parameterized tests mocks and integration suites that validate business logic and service contracts.
• Exhibit strong SQL skills including joins indexing strategies query optimization and transactional consistency concepts within relational databases.
• Apply sound knowledge of microservices design patterns including service decomposition resilience mechanisms and interservice communication techniques.
• Use good understanding of cards and payments concepts such as authorization clearing settlement and fraud controls to design more relevant and reliable solutions when applicable.
• Demonstrate experience in working within hybrid work models by collaborating effectively across onsite and remote team members and adapting to virtual agile ceremonies.
• Possess clear communication skills to explain technical decisions to peers and stakeholders while documenting tradeoffs and rationale in an accessible and concise manner.
• Show familiarity with CI CD practices and tools that automate build test and deployment flows for microservices based applications in complex environments.

Certifications Required

Preferred certifications include Oracle Certified Professional Java Programmer or Spring Professional certification or Kafka related practitioner certification.

At Cognizant, we're eager to meet people who believe in our mission and can make an impact in various ways. We encourage you to apply if you have most of the skills above and feel like you are strongly suited for this role. Consider what transferable experience and skills make you a unique applicant and help us see how you’d be beneficial to this role.

Cognizant will only consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in Canada without requiring employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.

Salary and Other 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 $115,500 – $135,500 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.

Working arrangements

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 days a week in a client office in Toronto, ON. 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. 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 we offer

• The chance to work with impact. Here, you’re empowered to bring your biggest thinking to help our company and clients improve everyday life.
• Ownership over your career. Stay at the top of your game through our award-winning learning and development ecosystem. And when your ambitions change or we offer new opportunities, we help you pivot by providing reskilling, on-the-job learning and guidance to find new roles that might be a better fit.
• The opportunity to thrive on a high caliber team with heart. We celebrate each other’s experiences and perspectives and promote a sense of belonging through our affinity groups and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• A comprehensive total rewards package, including a competitive salary and a pension plan with matching contributions.
• Flexible health and financial benefits to support you and your eligible dependents—from day one.
• True work-life balance. Be at your best through paid time off, flexible work arrangements, volunteering opportunities, social events, and so much more.  

About us
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, building the bridge between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, realize tangible returns and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant.

Other employment-related information
Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial or local laws.

If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email [email protected] with your request and contact information.

Language requirements vary depending on roles, but we ask that all candidates have basic English proficiency for company-wide communications purposes. For roles based in Quebec, professional English proficiency is required, as you’ll deliver services to and collaborate with stakeholders outside the province who may not speak French.