Azure Network Engineer

About the Company

Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is a leading technology services company that helps businesses innovate by modernizing technology, reimagining processes, and transforming experiences to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving environment. The company is dedicated to making everyday life better through its solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and deploy scalable, secure, and highly available network architectures for Azure and hybrid cloud/on-premises settings.
• Architect and manage Azure networking components including Virtual Networks (VNets), VNet peering, ExpressRoute, VPN Gateways, Azure Firewall, Application Gateway, Load Balancers, and Private Link services.
• Define network segmentation strategies and implement hub-and-spoke or Virtual WAN topologies aligned with Zero Trust networking principles.
• Collaborate with security teams to design and implement network security architectures incorporating Network Security Groups (NSGs), Azure Firewall policies, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection, and Web Application Firewall (WAF).
• Create and maintain comprehensive network documentation, standards, and reference architectures.
• Lead migration and modernization efforts transitioning legacy network infrastructures to cloud-native platforms.
• Adopt Infrastructure-as-Code approaches for network provisioning using tools such as Terraform, Bicep, and ARM templates.
• Work closely with cloud architects, DevOps, and security teams on infrastructure projects requiring cross-functional cooperation.
• Liaise with Microsoft support and account teams to resolve technical issues and optimize performance.
• Take ownership of incident management, including root-cause analysis for critical network outages.
• Keep up-to-date with Azure networking developments and emerging technologies to recommend and implement improvements.

Required Qualifications

• Between 5 and 11 years of professional experience in network engineering or architecture, particularly with a focus on Azure networking.
• Expert-level knowledge of Azure networking services such as VNets, ExpressRoute, VPN Gateways, Azure Firewall, Virtual WAN, Load Balancers, Application Gateway, and Private Endpoints.
• Strong grasp of networking protocols including BGP, OSPF, TCP/IP, DNS, and security concepts.
• Practical experience with hybrid network connectivity solutions between on-premises data centers and Azure using ExpressRoute and Site-to-Site VPN.
• Proficient in Infrastructure-as-Code tools, notably Terraform.
• Solid understanding of network security including firewalls, NSGs, WAF, DDoS protection, and implementations of Zero Trust architecture.
• Experience with monitoring and observability platforms such as Azure Monitor, Network Watcher, or third-party tools like SolarWinds and ThousandEyes.
• Advanced scripting abilities using PowerShell, Python, or Bash aimed at process automation.
• Exceptional communication skills to articulate architectural decisions to diverse audiences both technical and non-technical.
• Experience leading teams or mentoring junior engineers in relevant projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications including Microsoft Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700) and Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).
• Additional networking certifications such as CCNP, CCIE, or CompTIA Network+ or equivalent credentials.
• Knowledge of container networking involving AKS and Container Network Interface (CNI) plugins.
• Experience in the healthcare sector with an understanding of regulatory compliance standards like HIPAA and HITRUST.

Eligibility

Candidates holding a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) or Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree in any specialization are eligible to apply.

Location

This position is based in Pune, India, with onsite work expected.