Senior Data Engineer with GCP

Cognizant Romania is home to 2400+ creative technologists and is one of Eastern Europe's largest Software Product Engineering delivery networks. We serve global clients in several industries, including Banking & Financial Services, Insurance, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Communication Media & Technology, and Retail & MLEU (manufacturing, logistics, energy & utilities).

Cognizant Romania was established in 2018 when Cognizant acquired Softvision, a company founded in the late 1990s in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. We continue to build on our history as the preferred engineering partner for thriving Silicon Valley tech companies, now as a prominent Cognizant next generation studio.

We are seeking a talented and experienced Senior Data Engineer to join our team in Bucharest. You will design and deliver scalable data pipelines and high‑performance analytical solutions using SQL/BigQuery, Spark/PySpark, and Python on Google Cloud. This role focuses on building reliable, cloud‑native data products that enable advanced reporting, analytics, and decision‑making across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build scalable data pipelines: Design and deliver batch and real-time ETL/ELT pipelines across cloud environments to support analytics and reporting.
• Develop SQL and BigQuery solutions: Write and optimize advanced SQL transformations and build performant, cost‑efficient BigQuery data models.
• Develop Python workflows: Implement scalable data processing solutions using Python and PySpark, ensuring maintainable and high‑quality code.
• Design data models and ensure quality: Build robust data models and apply validation practices to maintain accuracy and reliability.
• Build cloud‑native data solutions: Use GCP services such as BigQuery, Dataflow, Cloud Composer, Pub/Sub, and GCS to build and operate modern data platforms.
• Optimize performance and reliability: Troubleshoot complex pipeline issues and continuously improve compute, storage, and processing performance.
• Collaborate using strong engineering practices: Work with engineering, analytics, and business teams while contributing to CI/CD, code reviews, and testing standards.

Required Skills and Experience

• 5+ years of experience as a Data Engineer, building scalable data pipelines and working with cloud-based data ecosystems.
• Strong expertise in SQL and hands‑on experience building performant datasets in BigQuery (or similar cloud data warehouses).
• Proven experience with Python and PySpark for scalable data processing in distributed environments.
• Solid understanding of data modeling, ELT/ETL patterns, and data quality best practices.
• Experience with Google Cloud Platform, particularly BigQuery, Dataflow, Cloud Composer, GCS, or equivalent cloud data services.
• Hands‑on experience building scalable data pipelines (batch and near real‑time) in a cloud‑native environment.
• Proficiency with version control, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing frameworks.
• Ability to troubleshoot and optimize performance across compute, storage, and processing layers.

Nice to have:

• Experience with Infrastructure‑as‑Code (Terraform, Ansible, Chef).
• Knowledge of shell scripting.
• Experience in financial services or regulated environments

Cognizant Romania Employee Benefits:

• Flexible Work Schedule – Outside of core working hours, you have the flexibility to arrange your schedule in a way that best suits your personal and professional needs.
• Flexible Hybrid Approach – We support a hybrid working model that helps you balance remote and office work. Employees based near a Cognizant office are expected to spend a minimum of 4 days per month onsite.
• Annual Leave – Enjoy 26 vacation days each year to relax, recharge, travel, and spend quality time with family and friends.
• Learning & Development – Access a wide range of training programs, workshops, certifications, and continuous learning opportunities to support your professional growth.
• Private Medical Insurance – Comprehensive healthcare coverage for your wellbeing and peace of mind.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Confidential professional support services to help you navigate personal, emotional, financial, legal, or work-related challenges.
• Meal Tickets – Monthly meal allowance provided through meal vouchers.
• Referral Bonus Program – Help us grow our team and be rewarded for successful referrals.
• Life Insurance – Additional protection and financial security
• Banking Benefits – Preferential banking services and financial products through our partner institutions.
• Bookster Library – Access thousands of books, audiobooks, and learning resources to support both personal and professional development.

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