Cognizant - FinOps Engineer/Specialist

Description :

- FinOps Engineer / FinOps Specialist with an Azure focus for Protect Perform.

Role Overview :

Protect Perform is seeking a FinOps Engineer to drive proactive cloud cost governance, optimization, and forecasting across its Azure-based platforms. This role will be responsible for day to day cost monitoring, automation, and insight generation, working closely with engineering, DevOps, and platform teams to prevent cost overruns and improve financial accountability in cloud usage.

The role is expected to be hands-on, analytical, and technically strong, moving beyond reporting into active cost control and optimization.

Key Responsibilities :

Cloud Cost Management & Optimization :

- Actively monitor Azure cloud spend across environments (prod, non prod, lower environments).

- Identify cost anomalies, spikes, and inefficient usage patterns early and proactively.

- Perform deep dive analysis of Azure cost components, including :

- Azure SQL (compute, storage, backups, logs)

- Databricks (job vs interactive compute, workload attribution)

- Storage, networking, and supporting services

- Drive cost optimization actions, not just recommendations (e.g., cleanup, right sizing, automation).

Proactive Monitoring & Automation :

- Build and enhance automated monitoring and alerting for cost thresholds and unusual consumption patterns.

- Enable early warnings such as percentage based cost growth alerts (e.g., 1520% increase).

- Leverage Azure-native FinOps tools and services, and integrate automation where possible.

Forecasting & Financial Planning :

- Support PI planning and roadmap discussions with cloud cost forecasts.

- Work with delivery teams to estimate cost impact from :

a. New user onboarding

b. New Azure services

c. Increased workloads or data growth

- Provide cost projections with rationale, enabling leadership to make informed decisions.

Governance & Cost Accountability :

- Help establish cost governance frameworks for cloud resource requests.

- Challenge capacity and cost assumptions by asking :

- Why is this capacity required?

- Will it be fully utilized?

- Improve cost attribution at workload, job, and user level (where feasible).

Stakeholder Collaboration :

- Work closely with :

a. DevOps and platform teams

b. Engineering and data teams

c. Central FinOps / reporting teams

- Translate technical cost data into clear, actionable insights for leadership.

- Act as the FinOps point of contact embedded within the team.

Required Skills & Experience :

Technical Skills :

- Strong hands on experience with Microsoft Azure, especially :

- Azure Cost Management & Billing

- Azure SQL and storage components

- Databricks cost models and compute types

- Understanding of cloud architecture and DevOps practices.

- Ability to analyze complex cost breakdowns and link them to workloads and usage patterns.

FinOps & Analytical Skills :

- Solid understanding of FinOps principles (cost optimization, accountability, forecasting).

- Strong analytical mindset with the ability to identify inefficiencies and root causes.

- Experience working with large datasets and high volume data environments is a plus.

Soft Skills :

- Strong critical thinking and questioning mindset.

- Ability to communicate clearly with both technical teams and senior stakeholders.

- Comfortable working independently in a day to day operational FinOps role.

Experience & Profile :

- 6+ years of experience in Cloud, FinOps, DevOps, or Platform Engineering roles.

- Prior experience in a FinOps-focused role is highly desirable.

- Experience working with offshore or distributed teams preferred.

Working Model :

- Offshore role preferred.

- Required overlap with EST hours until ~11 : 00 AM EST.

- Focused, dedicated role (not part time or advisory).

Nice to Have :

- Exposure to multi cloud environments (AWS / GCP), even if primary focus remains Azure.

- Familiarity with third party FinOps or cost optimization tools (agnostic platforms).

- Experience supporting cloud migrations from on prem to Azure.

Success Metrics :

- Reduction in unplanned cloud cost increases.

- Early detection of cost anomalies.

- Improved cost transparency and attribution.

- Actionable forecasts aligned with delivery plans.

- Demonstrable cost savings and optimization outcomes.