Associate Director, Generative AI and Agentic AI Architecture

Cognizant; Mississauga; Remote; CAD 152,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off

401(k) plan and contributions

Long-term/Short-term Disability

Paid Parental Leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking an Associate Director of Generative AI and Agentic AI Architecture. This remote, full-time role shapes enterprise AI strategy, architecture, and delivery across client accounts, guiding teams of AI professionals while upholding responsible AI practices.

The role requires hands-on AI expertise, strong executive communication, and experience with cloud environments (AWS/Azure/GCP), containers, and orchestration tools. Remote Canada-based applicants are welcome.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's in CS/AI/DS/Engineering with AI architecture experience.
• Proven production AI/ML architecture experience with large language models.
• Hands-on Python, model APIs, prompt engineering and agentic workflows.
• Experience with AWS/Azure/GCP, containers, Kubernetes, CI/CD, MLOps, security, governance.
• Strong client-facing leadership and executive communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy, architecture, and delivery of enterprise-grade Generative AI solutions across multiple client engagements.
• Advise CXO-level stakeholders, facilitate executive workshops and AI maturity assessments.
• Define scalable reference architectures, technical standards, and governance for production AI systems.
• Develop repeatable AI offerings, accelerators, reusable components, and IP while supporting proposals and growth.
• Mentor AI architects, engineers, and data scientists while promoting responsible AI and innovation.

Skills

AI architecture leadership

Executive communication

Python

Model APIs

Prompt engineering

Agentic workflows

Vector databases

Retrieval architectures

Kubernetes

CI/CD / MLOps

Security & governance

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/AI/DS/Engineering

PhD / MBA or advanced AI credentials

Tools

Kubernetes

Containerization

CI/CD

MLOps / LLMOps

Job description

Associate Director, Generative AI and Agentic AI Architecture

Location: Remote

Employment Type: Full-Time

Job ID: 00070923031

Associate Director, Generative AI and Agentic AI Architecture

About the role

As an Associate Director, Generative AI and Agentic AI Architecture, you will make an impact by shaping and delivering enterprise-scale Generative AI and Agentic AI solutions across strategic client accounts. You will be a valued member of Cognizant’s AI leadership team and work collaboratively with client executives, Sales, Presales, Delivery, Engineering, and Data Science teams.

In this highly visible role, you will combine hands-on AI architecture expertise with executive advisory, solution delivery, practice development, and technical leadership.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the strategy, architecture, and delivery of enterprise-grade Generative AI, retrieval-augmented generation, and multi-agent AI solutions across multiple client engagements.

• Advise CXO-level stakeholders, facilitate executive workshops and AI maturity assessments, and translate complex AI capabilities into measurable business outcomes and adoption roadmaps.

• Define scalable reference architectures, technical standards, evaluation frameworks, guardrails, observability, and governance for production AI systems integrated with enterprise applications, data platforms, and cloud environments.

• Develop repeatable AI offerings, accelerators, reusable components, and intellectual property while supporting proposals, RFPs, solution estimates, and account growth opportunities.

• Build and mentor high-performing teams of AI architects, engineers, and data scientists while promoting responsible AI, technical excellence, innovation, and continuous learning.

Work model

We strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a remote position open to qualified applicants in Canada. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance through our various wellbeing programs.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you are engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured, we will always be clear about role expectations.

What you need to have to be considered

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Engineering, or a related discipline, combined with extensive progressive experience in AI/ML architecture, consulting, and delivery leadership.

• Proven experience architecting and delivering production-grade Generative AI, retrieval-augmented generation, and Agentic AI solutions using large language models, small language models, and orchestration frameworks.

• Hands-on expertise with Python, model APIs, prompt engineering, structured outputs, function calling, agentic workflows, embedding models, vector databases, reranking, hybrid search, and retrieval architectures.

• Experience integrating AI solutions with AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud, along with containerization, Kubernetes, CI/CD, MLOps, LLMOps, security, monitoring, and enterprise governance practices.

• Strong client-facing leadership and executive communication skills, including experience advising senior stakeholders, leading complex AI engagements, developing proposals and statements of work, and managing globally distributed teams.

These will help you stand out

• A PhD, MBA, or advanced credential in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or business management.

• Published research, patents, open-source contributions, conference presentations, or recognized thought leadership in Generative AI, Agentic AI, natural language processing, or LLMOps.

• Experience with agentic frameworks such as LangGraph, CrewAI, AutoGen, or Google Agent Development Kit, as well as AgentOps, model evaluation, and AI observability platforms.

• Knowledge of responsible AI, enterprise data governance, the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, the EU AI Act, and emerging AI regulatory requirements.

• Consulting experience within Financial Services, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Retail, Manufacturing, or Technology.

Salary and Other Compensation:

Applicants will be accepted till 11/15/2026

Cognizant will only consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship.

Please note, this role cannot offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future

The annual salary for this position will be in the range of $152,000 - $170,000 CAD depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.

Benefits:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off

• 401(k) plan and contributions

• Long-term/Short-term Disability

• Paid Parental Leave

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Disclaimer:

The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

Our strength is built on our ability to work together. Our diverse backgrounds offer different perspectives and new ways of thinking. It encourages lively discussions, creativity, productivity, and helps us build better solutions for our clients. We want someone who thrives in this setting and is inspired to craft meaningful solutions through true collaboration.

If you are content with ambiguity, excited by change, and excel through autonomy, we’d love to hear from you!

#LI-IK1

Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.