What are the responsibilities and job description for the Ansible and Terraform ( IAC ) Engineer position at Cognizant?
Location : Columbus, OH (100% onsite )
Looking for an automation-focused engineer to provision and configure OS hosts using Terraform (IaC) and Ansible (configuration management).
The role supports Windows Server 2019 → 2022 refresh initiatives primarily by enabling repeatable, script-driven builds, enforcing baseline standards, and supporting migration waves from an infrastructure readiness standpoint.
Primary Responsibilities (Automation & Provisioning – Core Focus)
(Windows Migration Support)
- Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*
Looking for an automation-focused engineer to provision and configure OS hosts using Terraform (IaC) and Ansible (configuration management).
The role supports Windows Server 2019 → 2022 refresh initiatives primarily by enabling repeatable, script-driven builds, enforcing baseline standards, and supporting migration waves from an infrastructure readiness standpoint.
Primary Responsibilities (Automation & Provisioning – Core Focus)
- Build and maintain Terraform code to provision server infrastructure (modules, variables, state practices as applicable in the program).
- Develop and maintain Ansible roles/playbooks to configure Windows servers post-provisioning (baseline config, prerequisite packages, repeatable setup).
- Standardize “push-button” provisioning so Windows Server 2022 builds are consistent, compliant, and reproducible across environments.
- Troubleshoot and remediate provisioning failures in Terraform/Ansible pipelines, including drift and idempotency issues.
- Partner with platform/security teams to embed enterprise baseline requirements (hardening, logging prerequisites, standard configuration) into automation where applicable.
- Maintain version control, documentation, and runbooks for provisioning automation (how-to run, inputs/outputs, common failure patterns).
- Support automation integration into CI/CD style workflows where used (e.g., orchestration pipelines), aligning to automated provisioning approaches.
(Windows Migration Support)
- Support Windows Server 2019 → 2022 refresh execution by ensuring OS-level readiness of newly provisioned servers.
- Assist with migration wave execution activities (e.g., readiness checks, cutover support, post-cutover stabilization)
- Coordinate with app teams for infra-level troubleshooting during wave windows (access, connectivity, server readiness issues).
- Hands-on experience with Terraform for infrastructure provisioning.
- Hands-on experience with Ansible for configuration management/automation.
- Ability to debug automation issues end-to-end (inputs, dependencies, execution logs, repeatability).
- Working knowledge of Windows Server administration fundamentals (enough to configure/troubleshoot Windows 2022 hosts in an automated build model).
- Strong documentation and operational rigor (runbooks, repeatable procedures, controlled changes).