Architect, Systems Engineer

Cash Payments Architect

Cognizant Consulting is more than Cognizant's consulting practice—we're a global community of 5,000+ experts dedicated to helping clients reimagine their business. Blending our deep industry and technology advisory capability, we create innovative business solutions for Fortune 500 clients. And now, we're looking for our next colleague who'll join us in shaping the future of business. Could it be you?

As a Cash Payments Architect
, you will make an impact by designing and governing resilient, scalable payments architectures that power high-value and low-value transactions end-to-end. You'll be a valued member of our Banking & Financial Services team, collaborating closely with business stakeholders, product leaders, and enterprise/solution architects to modernize payments platforms and integrate with domestic and cross-border clearing schemes.

• Define and govern end-to-end application and integration architecture for real-time and batch payments, balancing throughput, latency, resiliency, data interfaces, and client-server/microservices communication.
• Partner with Business and Principal Solution/Enterprise Architects to align designs to enterprise strategy; prepare and present architecture for Design Authority/Architecture Review Board decisions.
• Consult with technology and business stakeholders to evaluate and recommend techniques, practices, and technologies (APIs, events, messaging, integration patterns) that ensure efficient, flexible, and durable solutions.
• Lead payments solution designs and integrations with clearing/settlement networks (e.g., Fedwire, ACH, CHIPS, CHAPS, SWIFT; RITS exposure a plus) and internal systems across the payment lifecycle.
• Champion modern patterns—ISO 20022, event-driven architectures, cloud-native microservices—and coach teams on scalable design, quality, and operability.

We believe hybrid work is the way forward. Based on this role's business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 4 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in Chicago, IL.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting and may change based on project, business, or client requirements. We will always be clear about role expectations.

• 10+ years in application/infrastructure architecture across multiple technologies, with recent hands‑on object‑oriented experience; ability to interpret Java/Spring and apply appropriate design patterns.
• Payments domain expertise across the full lifecycle (initiation, validation, clearing, settlement, exceptions) and deep familiarity with ISO 20022 for high-value and low-value payments.
• Proven experience integrating enterprise payments platforms with in-house applications using API‑led and event‑driven patterns (e.g., REST, gRPC, messaging, Kafka).
• Experience with clearing schemes such as Fedwire, ACH, CHIPS, CHAPS, SWIFT (RITS valued) and the surrounding controls for resiliency, recoverability, and monitoring.
• Strong consultative, communication, and stakeholder management skills across Operations, Product, Business, and Technology; fluency with Agile/Scrum delivery and architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF, UML, C4).

• Background with Cash Management, DDA, Liquidity Management solutions and prior exposure to payments vendor platforms (ACI, Intellect Design Arena, Oracle, SAP, Temenos, Fiserv).
• Applied experience with cloud‑native architectures, microservices, containers, and Kubernetes; site reliability and operational readiness practices.
• Proficiency with relational and No
  
  SQL databases and data modeling for payments.
• Ability to articulate designs with Visio, Sparx Enterprise Architect, IBM Rational, or Miro.
• A balanced, cross‑functional mindset—driving efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity across business and technology teams.

We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitation to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out.

The base salary range for this position is $90,000 - $129,500

Actual compensation will be based on factors such as relevant skills, experience, and work location. 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.

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Employee assistance program
• 10 paid holidays plus PTO
• Paid parental leave and fertility assistance
• Learning and development certifications and programs

Applications will be accepted until October 24th.