Senior Backend Engineer; Java​/Kotlin, Microservices

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Backend Engineer (Java/Kotlin, Microservices) to design and build scalable, high-performance backend systems for enterprise applications. This role requires deep expertise in Java-based development, modern microservices architecture, and cloud-native design principles.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer with strong experience in distributed systems, API development, and database engineering, combined with a passion for writing clean, efficient, and reliable code. Exposure to emerging technologies such as AI integrations and event-driven systems is highly valued.

As a Senior Backend Engineer, you will play a key role in building and evolving robust backend services that power critical business applications. You will work on designing and implementing microservices, developing high-quality APIs, and ensuring system scalability, resilience, and performance.

In this role, you will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including product, architecture, and data engineering to deliver end-to-end solutions. You will contribute to technical design decisions, promote best practices, and help drive innovation through the adoption of modern technologies and frameworks.

This position is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys solving complex technical challenges, and is passionate about building secure and scalable backend systems. Your expertise in Java, Kotlin, and distributed architectures will be essential in shaping next-generation enterprise platforms, with opportunities to integrate emerging AI capabilities into production systems.

Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services using Java (17+) and Kotlin
• Build and evolve microservices architectures
  , ensuring high availability, resiliency, and performance
• Develop and maintain RESTful APIs following API-first design principles and enterprise integration standards
• Implement event-driven architectures using technologies such as Kafka
• Write clean, efficient, and secure enterprise-grade code
  , following best practices and coding standards
• Contribute to system design, including distributed systems, fault tolerance, and scalability strategies
• Optimize application performance, including JVM tuning, database performance, and caching mechanisms
• Design and work with SQL and No
  
  SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis)
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver end-to-end backend solutions
• Participate in code reviews, testing, and CI/CD processes to ensure high-quality releases
• Integrate and explore AI-driven capabilities (LLMs, RAG, semantic search) within backend systems where applicable
• Contribute to technical documentation, architecture discussions, and continuous improvement initiatives

At Cognizant, we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible, and we are here to support a healthy work-life balance through our various wellbeing programs. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is an onsite position requiring 5 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in Salt Lake City, UT.

Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future

• Strong experience in backend development using Java (8–17+), with solid understanding of Core Java concepts (multithreading, collections, JVM)
• Hands-on experience with Spring Boot and microservices architecture
• Proficiency in building scalable, fault-tolerant APIs and distributed systems
• Experience with Kotlin or willingness to work with it in production environments
• Strong knowledge of event-driven systems and messaging (e.g., Kafka)
• Experience working with relational and No
  
  SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis)
• Solid understanding of API design, security, and integration patterns
• Experience with build and testing tools (Maven/Gradle, JUnit)
• Familiarity with cloud-native development principles and scalable system design
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment