About the role
As a Mainframe Architect – Healthcare Payer, you will play a critical role in designing, modernizing, and delivering enterprise-scale mainframe solutions that support core payer operations such as claims adjudication, membership processing, and billing systems. You will leverage deep expertise in COBOL, CICS, JCL, VSAM, DB2, and mainframe utilities to build scalable, resilient, and high-performance platforms that meet complex business and regulatory requirements.
You will be a key member of the architecture and engineering team, collaborating closely with product owners, business analysts, and cross-functional technology partners to translate intricate payer workflows and compliance needs into robust technical solutions. In this role, you will drive architectural standards, guide modernization strategies for legacy systems, and ensure continuous optimization of performance, reliability, and maintainability across the mainframe ecosystem.
Additionally, you will mentor engineering teams, influence technical direction, and contribute to the continuous improvement of mission-critical healthcare platforms while ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture goals and evolving business demands.
Work model
We strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this position is Hybrid in Mississauga, Ontario.
The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting and may evolve with client or business needs. We will always communicate expectations clearly.
Roles & Responsibilities (Day-to-Day Activities)
- Architect end-to-end mainframe solutions for healthcare payer systems, focusing on claims adjudication, membership processing, and high-volume transaction workflows using COBOL, CICS, JCL, VSAM, and DB2.
- Define scalable and reusable application and data architecture patterns for payer domains such as claims intake, policy administration, provider contracts, and premium billing.
- Collaborate with product owners and business analysts to translate complex payer business rules, benefit structures, and regulatory requirements into implementable technical designs.
- Review and govern COBOL, CICS, JCL, and DB2 design artifacts to ensure alignment with enterprise architecture standards, performance benchmarks, and long-term maintainability.
- Lead modernization initiatives by designing incremental refactoring strategies for legacy mainframe systems, ensuring minimal risk to mission-critical operations.
- Optimize batch processing by refining JCL workflows, scheduling dependencies, and batch window execution for critical cycles such as claims payment and eligibility updates.
- Analyze system performance and implement tuning strategies across CICS regions, VSAM datasets, and DB2 databases to improve response times and throughput.
- Establish security, data privacy, and audit controls aligned with healthcare regulations (e.g., HIPAA) to protect sensitive member and provider data.
- Mentor development teams on mainframe best practices, including coding standards, transaction design, and efficient use of system utilities.
- Support production stability by conducting root cause analysis of incidents and designing long-term remediation solutions.
- business needs.
Required Qualifications (Must-Have Skills & Experience)
- 16–20 years of hands-on experience in mainframe technologies including COBOL, CICS, JCL, VSAM, DB2, and IBM mainframe utilities.
- Proven expertise in architecting and delivering large-scale healthcare payer systems, particularly in claims processing and membership platforms.
- Strong experience in designing high-performance, scalable, and resilient mainframe applications for mission-critical environments.
- Deep understanding of healthcare payer operations, including claims adjudication, eligibility, billing, and regulatory compliance requirements.
- Demonstrated experience in legacy modernization, including refactoring strategies and integration with distributed systems.
- Expertise in performance tuning, batch optimization, and system capacity planning for large transaction volumes.
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, with experience collaborating across business, architecture, and engineering teams.
- Ability to define and enforce architectural standards, governance, and best practices in a hybrid work environment.
Salary and Other Compensation:
Applications will be accepted by 07/17/2026.
We regularly assess market data to ensure we offer a competitive compensation package for our associates. The base salary for this position ranges between $86,000 – $136,000 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.
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.
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.
Additional employment information
Compensation 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.
Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview.
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, state or local laws.
