Technical Lead - Snowflake/Pyspark

Technical Lead – Snowflake & PySpark (Data Engineering)

Location: Hybrid
Experience: 10+ years

About Cognizant

Cognizant is a leading global professional services company, helping organizations modernize technology, reimagine processes, and transform experiences. With deep expertise in data, AI, and cloud, we enable enterprises to build scalable, future-ready platforms that deliver measurable business value.

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled Snowflake & PySpark Technical Lead to drive the design and delivery of modern data platforms.

In this role, you will architect and lead the development of high-performance data pipelines, enabling analytics, AI/ML models, and business-critical applications at scale. You will collaborate across teams, mentor engineers, and ensure the platform meets enterprise standards for performance, governance, and scalability.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Data Platform Engineering

• Lead the design and implementation of enterprise-scale data solutions using Snowflake and PySpark
• Architect scalable, high-performance ETL/ELT pipelines for batch and real-time processing
• Define data models, storage strategies, and processing frameworks to support analytics and AI use cases

Performance Optimization & Scalability

• Optimize Snowflake performance, including query tuning, warehouse sizing, and cost management
• Enhance large-scale distributed data processing using PySpark
• Ensure solutions meet performance, scalability, and reliability requirements

Data Integration & Ecosystem

• Oversee integration with upstream/downstream systems, including APIs, streaming platforms, and BI tools
• Build robust data ingestion and transformation frameworks
• Ensure seamless data flow across enterprise systems

Data Governance & Security

• Implement data governance, security, and compliance frameworks in Snowflake
• Enforce best practices for data quality, access control, and auditing
• Ensure alignment with organizational and regulatory standards

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner with data scientists, analysts, and business stakeholders to translate requirements into scalable solutions
• Bridge technical and business perspectives to deliver high-value data products

Leadership & Mentorship

• Lead and mentor data engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning
• Conduct code reviews and guide adoption of best practices in data engineering and DevOps

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Stay current with emerging technologies in cloud data platforms and big data processing
• Recommend and implement innovations to keep the platform modern and competitive

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in data engineering, with at least 3 years in a technical leadership role
• Deep expertise in Snowflake, including data modeling, query optimization, and warehouse scaling
• Strong hands-on experience with PySpark for distributed data processing
• Advanced proficiency in SQL and Python
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and associated data services
• Proven ability to design and deliver scalable, production-grade data platforms
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence both technical and business stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with real-time/streaming technologies (Kafka, Spark Streaming, etc.)
• Knowledge of data governance frameworks and regulatory compliance
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices for data platforms
• Experience working in enterprise-scale, global environments
• Exposure to AI/ML data pipelines and feature engineering

Compensation

• Base Salary Range: $120,000 – $135,000 per year
• Final compensation is based on experience, skills, and location
• Eligible for performance-based bonuses and incentive pay

Benefits

Cognizant offers a comprehensive benefits package to support your health, wealth, and career growth:

• Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Financial Security: 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance
• Time Off: Generous PTO, holidays, and parental leave
• Learning & Development: Certification support, upskilling programs, and career progression opportunities
• Flexible Work Model: Hybrid work environment promoting work-life balance
• Employee Experience: Wellness programs, employee resource groups, and recognition initiatives

Why Join Cognizant?

• Lead the development of cutting-edge data platforms powering AI and analytics
• Work with global clients and high-performing teams
• Drive innovation in a fast-growing, cloud-first data ecosystem
• Be part of a culture that values inclusion, collaboration, and impact