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Backend API Engineer - .NET / SQL Server / Web API / Azure

00070896671

We are seeking a strong Backend Engineer to design, build, and maintain enterprise-grade APIs, middleware services, and data-driven backend systems. This role will focus on developing scalable API products, enabling API consumers, enforcing API governance standards, and supporting secure API onboarding and consumption patterns.

The ideal candidate has strong hands-on experience with REST APIs, API management, API product design, Swagger/OpenAPI documentation, security controls, and modern integration patterns, including hands-on experience building and maintaining MCP servers. Strong experience with SQL Server, .NET, ASP.NET Web API, and Microsoft Azure is required.

In this role, you will

  • Design, develop, and maintain RESTful and event-driven APIs that meet enterprise standards for scalability, reliability, security, and maintainability.
  • Create and manage API products and API gateways, including:
  • Defining API product structure and access models.
  • Setting rate limits, quotas, and volume plans.
  • Configuring API security policies.
  • Publishing REST methods through Swagger/OpenAPI documentation.
  • Develop and maintain RESTful APIs that meet enterprise standards for scalability, reliability, security, and maintainability.
  • Configure API proxies, policies, routing, authentication, authorization, and traffic management controls.
  • Partner with application teams, provider teams, and consumer teams to support API onboarding and API consumption.
  • Support API lifecycle activities, including design, development, testing, publishing, versioning, promotion, and retirement.
  • Create, review, and maintain Swagger/OpenAPI specifications for APIs.
  • Ensure APIs are properly secured using modern authentication and authorization patterns such as OAuth 2.0, JWT, API keys, scopes, or similar mechanisms.
  • Assist API consumers with onboarding, app registration, credentials, subscription requests, and troubleshooting API access issues.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define API standards, governance practices, and reusable API patterns.
  • Monitor API performance, traffic, errors, and consumption trends.
  • Troubleshoot API integration issues across lower and production environments.
  • Support documentation and knowledge sharing related to API products, onboarding processes, and consumption best practices.

Work model:

We strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a remote position open to qualified applicants in Canada. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance through our various wellbeing programs.

Note: 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.

Primary Required Skills

SQL Server, .NET, ASP.NET Web API, Microsoft Azure, REST APIs, API Management, Swagger/OpenAPI, and API Security

What you need to have to be considered:

  • Extensive hands-on experience building and deploying production-grade RESTful APIs.

  • Strong hands-on experience with C#, .NET Framework, .NET Core, ASP.NET MVC, and ASP.NET Web API.

  • Strong SQL Server experience, including relational data modeling, complex queries, stored procedures, performance tuning, and troubleshooting.

  • Hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure, including cloud-hosted APIs, Azure App Services, Azure Functions, Azure SQL, Azure Key Vault, and monitoring capabilities.

  • Proficiency in Golang or Python.

  • Experience designing and creating API products within an API management platform.

  • Experience configuring rate limits, quotas, security policies, API products, developer or consumer applications, and API credentials.

  • Experience publishing REST API methods using Swagger/OpenAPI specifications.

  • Strong understanding of RESTful API design principles, HTTP methods, response codes, headers, payloads, and versioning strategies.

  • Familiarity with API onboarding processes, including registering applications, subscribing to API products, consuming APIs, and managing credentials.

  • Understanding of API security concepts, including OAuth 2.0, client credentials flow, bearer tokens, JWT validation, scopes, and access control.

  • Ability to troubleshoot API connectivity, authorization, routing, payload, database, and policy-execution issues.

  • Experience with data serialization languages and formats, including JSON, YAML, and XML.

  • Strong communication skills with the ability to work with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

  • Experience working in Linux environments.

  • Experience with CI/CD pipelines and API deployment automation.

These will help you stand out

  • Experience with enterprise API catalogs, developer portals, or API marketplaces.
  • Experience with API subscription and approval workflows.
  • Experience with identity providers such as Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), ForgeRock, Okta, Ping, or similar platforms.
  • Experience supporting internal, external, private, or partner-facing APIs.
  • Ability to minimize dependency on third-party libraries.
  • Experience with cloud platforms such as Azure, Google Cloud Platform, or AWS.
  • Familiarity with logging, monitoring, and observability tools.
  • Experience working in Agile delivery environments.
  • Knowledge of API governance, reusable API design standards, and enterprise integration patterns.
  • Experience with a lower-level language such as C, C++, or Rust, particularly for performance-sensitive or systems-level work.
  • Experience with Apigee Hybrid.
  • Experience querying relational databases.
  • Experience building, maintaining, and optimizing MCP servers.

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 CAD 90,000 - 117,500 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.

Things to know before you apply

  • Work authorization: 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.
  • Accommodations: 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.
  • AI in hiring: We use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help us screen and assess applications more efficiently. Our team performs additional human review and ultimately decides who moves forward in our hiring process.
  • Open position: Unless otherwise stated, this job posting is for an open position on our team.
  • Language proficiency: 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.
  • Inclusion: 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.

About Cognizant
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap 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, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant.

Benefits that help you thrive and grow

Our benefits program is built with you in mind—so you can enjoy a fulfilling, balanced and healthy life.

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Financial wellbeing

We regularly review market data to ensure compensation reflects the value you bring. Your benefits extend beyond pay and may include financial education, a pension plan with matching contributions, etc.

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Physical and mental health

We empower you to prioritize your wellbeing through paid time off, flexible working where possible, healthcare plans, counselling, our Mental Health Allyship program and more. 

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Your career, your way

With 350,000+ roles at Cognizant, you’ll have opportunities explore new technologies, industries and locations—and build the skills you need to grow your career.

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Real-world impact

Think about the biggest brands you rely on. Chances are, they rely on us to help strengthen their business. Here, you’ll turn bold ideas into solutions that improve lives everywhere.

Your path to Cognizant

Here’s what you can expect from our hiring process. Please keep in mind that it may vary by role and location. Explore our FAQs to learn more.

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Step 1: Apply to the right opportunity

Find an open role that matches your skills and career goals and show us why you’re the person for the job. Don’t see the right opportunity? Consider joining our Talent Community.

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Step 2: Connect with your recruiter

If one of our recruiters sees a fit, they’ll set up a short intro call to learn more about you and how your experiences and skills match the role.

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Step 3: Show off your skills

If you and our team would like to continue the process, you’ll interview with our hiring team. Some roles may also require technical assessments and/or client interviews.

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Step 4: Decision time

Our team will then review each candidates’ potential to succeed in the role. This step may take some time because we want to find the right fit for both you and us—but you can count on us to keep you updated.

CAN Brigitte
Cognizant is great for those wanting to make the world a better place, as we create solutions with top technology partners to address complex problems for our clients.
Brigitte Roy Director of Strategy Alliances
CAN Rahul
I’m supported by motivational leaders who empower me to grow in my career through learning programs, industry conferences and internal job moves. I’m proud of the career progression I’m making here.
Rahul Sathe Principal Product Architect – Insurance
Can Amita
The moment I joined Cognizant, I felt like I belonged. I was heard and empowered to challenge ideas—and I still am to this day.
Dr. Amita Oppal Gill Service Line Sales Manager
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Cognizant has one of the best learning ecosystems you can ask for. From sponsored certifications to training platforms to mentorship, we have all that we need to grow.
Debashish Mishra SAP MM Developer

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