Principal Application Architect - Healthcare (Java/Spring Boot)

Cognizant is seeking a Principal Application Architect to lead the design and evolution of enterprise-scale healthcare applications supporting complex capitation payment processing . This role is ideal for a seasoned architect with deep expertise in Java, Spring Boot, Spring Framework, microservices, and Linux , combined with strong healthcare payer domain knowledge. You will define architecture standards, establish best practices, mentor engineering teams, and drive the delivery of scalable, secure, and high-performing applications. Working closely with product owners, engineering leaders, and business stakeholders, you will transform complex business requirements into enterprise architecture solutions that support millions of healthcare transactions while meeting regulatory and operational requirements. Location: St. Louis, MO (Onsite), Design enterprise application architectures using Java, Spring Boot, Spring Framework, and Linux for large-scale healthcare payer platforms. Lead architecture for capitation-based payment systems with emphasis on scalability, resiliency, performance, and maintainability. Define enterprise architecture standards, design principles, and reusable patterns across multiple engineering teams. Partner with product owners and business stakeholders to translate business requirements into scalable technical architectures. Provide technical leadership for microservices architecture, API design, event-driven integration, messaging, and distributed systems. Review solution designs and implementation approach to ensure compliance with architecture standards, security requirements, and healthcare regulations. Architect provider data management solutions and enterprise data models supporting accurate provider information and interoperability. Optimize Java applications and Linux environments for high availability, throughput, and operational efficiency. Evaluate existing platforms to identify technical debt, modernization opportunities, and architectural improvements. Produce architecture artifacts including solution diagrams, architecture decision records (ADRs), reference architectures, and migration strategies. Evaluate emerging technologies within the Java ecosystem and recommend adoption strategies aligned with enterprise objectives. Mentor software engineers, technical leads, and solution architects while promoting engineering excellence and architectural best practices.

10+ years of experience designing and architecting enterprise Java applications. Deep expertise with Java, Spring Boot, Spring Framework, Spring Security, and RESTful API development . Extensive experience designing distributed systems using microservices architecture and modern integration patterns. Strong knowledge of object-oriented design principles , enterprise architecture, and common design patterns. Hands-on experience supporting applications in Linux environments, including deployment, monitoring, troubleshooting, and performance tuning. Experience designing highly available, scalable, and secure enterprise applications. Proven ability to establish architecture standards and provide technical leadership across multiple engineering teams. Strong communication skills with the ability to influence technical and business stakeholders. Preferred Qualifications Experience with healthcare payer systems , including capitation, claims, provider data management, eligibility, or enrollment. Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform). Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, OpenShift, or other container platforms. Familiarity with messaging technologies such as Kafka, RabbitMQ, or JMS. Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps practices. Knowledge of healthcare interoperability standards and regulatory requirements.

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. Why Join Cognizant? At Cognizant, we help leading organizations transform their businesses through modern engineering and digital innovation. As part of our Digital Engineering practice, you'll work on mission-critical healthcare platforms while collaborating with highly skilled architects and engineers solving complex technical challenges.

You'll have access to: Challenging enterprise architecture initiatives Continuous learning through Cognizant's award-winning learning platform Technical certification opportunities Competitive compensation, annual incentive eligibility, and stock award opportunities Comprehensive benefits and career growth within a global technology leader If you're passionate about designing enterprise-scale healthcare solutions, influencing technology strategy, and mentoring engineering teams, we'd love to hear from you.