Senior Generative AI Engineer

Cognizant; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 82,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant in Toronto, Canada, seeks a Senior Generative AI Engineer with 7+ years of software development, full stack experience, and AI-powered solutions. You will design, build, and deploy enterprise applications leveraging Generative AI, LLMs, and cloud-native tech.

You will work with AI data scientists and engineers to deliver scalable solutions, develop backend services, REST APIs, and microservices, and apply best practices for performance and reliability.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of software development experience with strong expertise in Java or Python.
• Experience building REST APIs and microservices.
• Strong experience with React and modern frontend development.
• Hands-on Generative AI, LLM integrations, and prompt engineering.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deliver scalable full stack applications aligned with business objectives.
• Build Generative AI frameworks, prompt engineering solutions, and LLM-powered apps in production.
• Develop backend services, REST APIs, and microservices while supporting frontend applications.
• Collaborate with AI data scientists, product owners, and stakeholders on data ingestion and feature engineering.
• Promote technical excellence through documentation and best practices.

Skills

Java

Python

REST APIs

Microservices

Generative AI

LLMs

Prompt engineering

React

OpenShift

Kubernetes

S3 Object Storage

PostgreSQL

Tools

GitHub Copilot

Claude Code

Windsurf

OpenShift

Kubernetes

Job description

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Generative AI Engineer with 7+ years of experience in software engineering, full stack development, and AI-powered solutions. In this role, you will design, build, and deploy enterprise applications leveraging Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), and cloud-native technologies. You'll work closely with business stakeholders, AI data scientists, and engineering teams to deliver scalable and innovative solutions that drive business value.

In this role, you will:

• Design, develop, and deliver scalable full stack applications and technical solutions aligned with business objectives.
• Build and implement Generative AI frameworks, prompt engineering solutions, and LLM-powered applications in production environments.
• Develop backend services, REST APIs, and microservices while supporting modern frontend applications and reusable UI components.
• Partner with AI data scientists, product owners, and stakeholders to support data ingestion, feature engineering, and AI solution delivery.
• Drive technical excellence through problem-solving, documentation, collaboration, and software development best practices.

Work model:

Hybrid

We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring4days a week in a client or Cognizant office in Toronto, Ontario. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs.

What you need to have to be considered:

• 7+ years of software development experience with strong expertise in Java or Python, including REST APIs and microservices.
• Strong experience with React, modern frontend development, Micro Frontend (MFE) architectures, and reusable component design.
• Hands‑on experience or strong understanding of Generative AI, Agentic AI concepts, LLM integrations, and prompt engineering.
• Experience with AI development tools such as GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Windsurf, or similar technologies, and cloud platforms including OpenShift, Kubernetes, and S3 Object Storage.
• Strong experience with PostgreSQL, including schema design, query optimization, and performance tuning.

These will help you stand out:

• Experience with Spec-Driven Development methodologies.
• Experience building and customizing solutions using Camunda 8.
• Knowledge of Vector Databases and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures.
• Experience delivering AI-powered applications in enterprise environments.
• Strategic mindset with strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role

Total compensation

We regularly assess market data to ensure we offer a competitive compensation package for our associates. The base salary for this position ranges between $81,500 – 95,500 per year. Where the successful candidate may fall within the range depends on relevant education, work and/or management experience and other business-related and job-necessary qualifications. This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual performance-based bonus, as well as benefits that support your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.