Senior Backend Engineer; Java​/Kotlin

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Backend Engineer (Java/Kotlin) to design, build, and support scalable backend platforms and APIs that power critical business applications. In this role, you will work closely with engineering, product, security, and partner teams to deliver secure, high-performing, cloud-native solutions while serving as a technical advisor for integration initiatives.

In this role, you will:

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services and microservices using Java and/or Kotlin.
• Serve as a technical consultant to internal and external stakeholders, providing guidance on API capabilities and integration best practices.
• Collaborate with partner teams to onboard, troubleshoot, and resolve integration challenges involving REST APIs, GraphQL services, and OAuth-based authentication.
• Gather and analyze business and technical requirements and translate them into secure, scalable technology solutions.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, integration guides, and sample applications to support developers and partners.
• Enhance application performance, reliability, monitoring, and observability in cloud-native environments.
• Implement and support automated testing frameworks, CI/CD pipelines, and deployment processes.
• Partner with product, engineering, and security teams to ensure solutions meet compliance, security, and operational standards.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex production issues within distributed systems and microservice architectures.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, driving engineering excellence and operational efficiency.

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

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. These may change based on the project you are engaged in, as well as evolving business and client requirements. We will always be transparent about role expectations.

Please note:

Some roles may require in‑person interviews at Cognizant offices or client locations based on project needs.

• 8+ years of software engineering experience with strong expertise in Java and/or Kotlin development.
• Hands‑on experience building RESTful APIs, GraphQL services, and microservice-based architectures.
• Strong proficiency with Spring Boot and modern backend development practices.
• Experience implementing OAuth 2.0, authentication, authorization, and API security controls.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS or GCP.
• Proficiency with containerization and orchestration technologies, including Docker and Kubernetes.
• Experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines and working in Git‑based development environments.
• Hands‑on experience with automated testing frameworks such as JUnit, Mockito, or similar tools.
• Strong understanding of distributed systems and API integrations.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex production issues.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.

• Experience serving as a technical advisor for customer, partner, or enterprise integrations.
• Expertise in cloud-native application development and observability practices.
• Experience developing technical documentation, SDKs, integration guides, or sample applications.
• Strong knowledge of scalability, performance tuning, and reliability engineering.
• Experience working in highly collaborative, cross‑functional Agile environments.
• Passion for building…