About the role
As an SRE Coach and Transformation Lead, you will make an impact by guiding organizations through the evolution from traditional production operations to a mature, scalable Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) operating model. You will act as a trusted advisor and coach—partnering with engineering, operations, and leadership teams to embed reliability thinking, modern operating practices, and sustainable ways of working.
You will be a valued member of Cognizant’s Reliability Engineering ecosystem, collaborating closely with Account Reliability Engineering (ARE), delivery leaders, and LoB stakeholders to drive measurable improvements in reliability, resilience, and engineering effectiveness.
This role is ideal for senior SRE leaders who enjoy coaching teams, shaping strategy, and scaling reliability practices, rather than owning day‑to‑day production support.
Cognizant will only consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring company sponsorship now or at any time in the future.
In this role, you will:
Coach engineering and operations leaders on SRE principles, behaviors, and mindset, enabling long‑term adoption beyond tooling
Assess organizational, technical, and cultural maturity across towers and Lines of Business to identify readiness for SRE transformation
Define SRE engagement and operating models tailored to tower maturity, team capability, and business priorities
Design and deliver tower‑specific SRE transformation roadmaps, including governance, metrics, tooling, and coaching plans
Guide teams in transitioning from traditional production operations to SRE ownership models, clarifying boundaries and responsibilities
Support leaders in mapping existing roles to SRE functions, identifying skill gaps, reskilling opportunities, and organizational design changes
Influence senior stakeholders through structured recommendations, maturity assessments, and outcome‑based metrics
Act as a thought partner to ARE and delivery leadership in evolving enterprise‑scale reliability practices
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 with presence in a Cognizant office in Charlotte, NC as needed. Regardless of your working arrangement, we support healthy work‑life balance through our wellbeing programs.
The working arrangements for this role may evolve based on client and business needs. We will always be clear about role expectations.
What you need to have to be considered
15+ years of experience in software engineering, infrastructure, or production operations, including 5+ years in senior SRE, reliability, or platform leadership roles
Demonstrated experience coaching teams and leaders through SRE or operating‑model transformations
Proven success designing and scaling SRE practices across large, complex, enterprise environments
Strong understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), observability ecosystems, and automation approaches (IaC, CI/CD enablement)
Experience translating technical reliability concepts into executive‑level insights and decisions
Excellent facilitation, communication, and stakeholder‑influencing skills
These will help you stand out
Experience acting as an internal or external SRE advisor, coach, or transformation lead
Background in consulting, enterprise transformation, or operating‑model change initiatives
Deep familiarity with SRE concepts such as SLOs/SLIs, error budgets, toil management, and reliability metrics—applied at scale
Passion for enablement, coaching, and creating self‑sustaining engineering organizations
Please note: This role will require an in-person meet and greet at our Cognizant offices or client location.
Applications will be accepted until May 4th, 2026.
Salary and Other Compensation:
The annual salary for this position is 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.
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.