Systems Operations Engineer
About the role
As a Systems Operations Engineer, you will make an impact by ensuring the reliability, performance, automation, and continuous improvement of enterprise infrastructure and mission-critical production systems. You will be a valued member of the Infrastructure Engineering team and work collaboratively with application support teams, platform engineers, cloud architects, security teams, and business stakeholders to deliver resilient, scalable, and highly available technology solutions.
In this role, you will:
- Design, implement, and support enterprise infrastructure solutions across Linux, UNIX, cloud, and hybrid environments.
- Develop automation and monitoring solutions to improve operational efficiency, system reliability, and incident response.
- Manage and optimize production systems through proactive monitoring, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and performance tuning.
- Support cloud migration, infrastructure modernization, and platform enhancement initiatives while ensuring high availability and operational excellence.
- Collaborate with engineering, security, and operations teams to maintain compliance, improve system observability, and implement best practices for infrastructure management.
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 Pheonix, AZ. 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
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- 8+ years of experience supporting enterprise infrastructure, systems engineering, or production operations environments.
- Extensive experience administering Linux and UNIX operating systems in large-scale enterprise environments.
- Experience with infrastructure monitoring, alerting, and observability tools such as Zabbix, ThousandEyes, PagerDuty, StatusCast, or similar platforms.
- Strong experience with systems automation, scripting, and operational process improvement.
- Experience supporting mission-critical applications and performing advanced troubleshooting and root cause analysis in production environments.
- Experience with cloud platforms, particularly AWS, including migration and infrastructure modernization initiatives.
- Knowledge of high-availability architectures, disaster recovery, capacity planning, and performance optimization.
- Experience working with hybrid cloud and on-premises infrastructure environments.
- Strong understanding of incident management, change management, and IT operational best practices.
- Experience working in highly regulated environments with security, compliance, and audit requirements.
- Excellent communication, analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
These will help you stand out
- Experience leveraging AI or machine learning technologies to improve operational efficiency and infrastructure monitoring.
- Experience with enterprise job scheduling platforms such as AutoSys.
- Experience supporting large-scale financial services, banking, payment processing, or higher education environments.
- Experience integrating predictive analytics and proactive monitoring strategies into operational workflows.
- Experience leading infrastructure migration, OS upgrade, or modernization programs.
- Familiarity with Java-based application support and troubleshooting.
- Experience mentoring junior engineers and leading operational initiatives across distributed teams.
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.
Salary and Other Compensation
Applications will be accepted until July 20, 2026.
The annual salary for this position is between $88,000 - $120,000 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
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.
