Program Delivery Director – Enterprise Data Migration (AWS)

About the role

We are seeking a Program Delivery Director to lead the modernization of a large-scale, enterprise data ecosystem—transitioning complex legacy platforms into a scalable, cloud-native architecture on AWS.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end strategy for migrating legacy data environments to AWS, leveraging services such as AWS Glue, Redshift, Aurora, EMR, and related analytics and data integration platforms.
• Drive phased, low-risk migration approaches that balance speed, quality, and business continuity.
• Lead large, multi-stream programs with accountability for delivery outcomes, timelines, risk mitigation, and stakeholder confidence.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to CXO and VP-level leaders, translating technical progress into business impact, KPIs, and value realization.
• Build, mentor, and scale cross-functional teams spanning data engineering, architecture, DevOps, and governance.
• Establish a strong delivery culture rooted in accountability, transparency, and modern engineering best practices.
• Provide architectural leadership across cloud-native data platforms, including data lakes, warehouses, and lakehouse designs.
• Guide implementation using AWS-native services such as Kinesis, Lambda, Lake Formation, and modern analytics pipelines.
• Champion next-generation Data Lakehouse architectures, including transactional and scalable data platforms built on open table formats such as Apache Iceberg.
• Ensure performance optimization, schema evolution, and multi-engine analytics enablement.
• Establish enterprise-grade data governance, lineage, and metadata management, leveraging platforms such as Collibra.
• Ensure visibility, trust, and regulatory compliance across critical enterprise data assets.
• Partner closely with business leaders across technology, marketing, sales, and operations to align data migration initiatives with broader transformation goals.
• Navigate ambiguity, refine evolving requirements, and design solutions that scale with the business.
• Provide oversight on AWS security fundamentals, CI/CD pipelines, and DevOps practices to support secure, automated, and resilient delivery models.

Requirements

18+ years of experience in Data Engineering and Program Delivery, with 8+ years leading AWS-based cloud transformations.

Proven success migrating legacy data ecosystems to AWS at enterprise scale.

Deep expertise in data architecture including Data Warehousing, Data Lakes, Lakehouse models, Data Mesh concepts, and Data-as-a-Product thinking.

Strong hands-on and strategic knowledge of Data Lakehouse principles and open table formats such as Apache Iceberg.

Demonstrated leadership in data governance, lineage, and metadata management, including enterprise use of tools like Collibra.

Executive-level communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate delivery progress, risk, and outcomes.

Track record of building credibility with senior stakeholders and steering complex programs through change.

Qualifications

Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.

CISSP or equivalent cybersecurity certification preferred.

Skills

Experience with AWS services such as AWS Glue, Redshift, Aurora, EMR, and related analytics and data integration platforms.

Strong hands-on and strategic knowledge of Data Lakehouse principles and open table formats such as Apache Iceberg.

Experience with data governance, lineage, and metadata management tools like Collibra.

Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the ability to translate technical progress into business impact.

Benefits

The annual base salary for this position is between $190,000 - $205,000 depending on the experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program and stock awards, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.

Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan