Senior Data Analyst - Cognizant, Hyderabad

Cognizant is seeking an experienced Senior Data Analyst for a Work from Office role in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. This position requires 7+ years of experience and offers a unique opportunity to contribute to our Product/Operations team by transforming complex business questions into actionable insights and driving strategic decisions.

Role Summary

We are looking for a highly skilled Senior Data Analyst with deep proficiency in SQL, a strong understanding of data architecture, and hands-on experience with the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) ecosystem. You will play a crucial role in shaping the future of our Product/Operations team, collaborating effectively with engineering, product, and business leaders.

Key Responsibilities

• Advanced Data Analysis: Utilize advanced SQL skills to query, analyze, and manipulate large, complex datasets. Develop and maintain robust, scalable dashboards and reports to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Source Code Management: Effectively manage, version, and collaborate on code using systems like GitHub. Uphold data integrity, produce reproducible analyses, and foster a collaborative database management environment through best practices in version control and code documentation.
• Strategic Insights: Partner with product managers and business stakeholders to define and answer critical business questions. Conduct deep-dive analyses to identify trends, opportunities, and root causes of performance changes.
• Data Architecture & Management: Collaborate with data engineers to design, maintain, and optimize data schemas and pipelines. Provide guidance on data modeling best practices and ensure data integrity and quality.
• Reporting & Communication: Translate complex data findings into clear, concise, and compelling narratives for both technical and non-technical audiences. Present insights and recommendations to senior leadership to influence strategic decision-making.
• Project Leadership: Lead analytical projects from end to end, including defining project scope, methodology, and deliverables. Mentor junior analysts, fostering a culture of curiosity and data-driven problem-solving.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field such as Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of professional experience in a data analysis or business intelligence role.
• Expert-level proficiency in SQL with a proven ability to write complex queries, perform window functions, and optimize queries for performance on massive datasets.
• Strong understanding of data architecture, including data warehousing, data modeling (e.g., star/snowflake schemas), and ETL/ELT principles.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a track record of successfully influencing stakeholders.
• Experience with a business intelligence tool such as Tableau, Looker, or Power BI to create dashboards and visualizations.
• Experience with internal Google/Alphabet data tools and infrastructure, such as BigQuery, Dremel, or Google-internal data portals.
• Experience with statistical analysis, A/B testing, and experimental design.
• Familiarity with machine learning concepts and their application in a business context.
• A strong sense of curiosity and a passion for finding and communicating insights from data.
• Proficiency with scripting languages for data analysis (e.g., App scripting, Python or R) would be an added advantage.

Additional Responsibilities

• Lead a team of data scientists and analysts to deliver data-driven insights and solutions.
• Oversee the development and implementation of data models and algorithms to support new product development.
• Provide strategic direction for data science projects ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate data science solutions into business processes.
• Analyze complex datasets to identify trends and patterns that inform business decisions.
• Utilize generative AI techniques to develop innovative solutions for product development.
• Ensure adherence to ITIL V4 practices in all data science projects.
• Develop and maintain documentation for data science processes and methodologies.
• Mentor and guide team members to enhance their technical and analytical skills.
• Monitor project progress and adjust strategies to meet deadlines and objectives.
• Communicate findings and recommendations to stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.
• Drive continuous improvement in data science practices and methodologies.
• Foster a culture of innovation and collaboration within the data science team.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in business analysis and data analysis.
• Expertise in generative AI and its applications in product development.
• Solid understanding of ITIL V4 practices and their implementation.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Proficiency in managing and leading a team of data professionals.
• Commitment to working from the office during day shifts.