Principal ML Engineer

Cognite; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 2,000,000 - 3,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognite is seeking a Principal ML Engineer to lead the development of next-gen contextual AI for Industrial Operations in Bengaluru, India. The role involves transforming unstructured data into actionable intelligence using advanced ML techniques. You will collaborate with teams to design and deploy high-performance, scalable ML systems.

Candidates should have significant industry experience, strong programming skills, and a robust understanding of machine learning frameworks. Join us to drive digital transformation and redefine industrial solutions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of industry experience in machine learning and software development.
• Solid understanding of data structures, algorithms, and software architecture.

Responsibilities

• Study, transform, and deploy data science prototypes into production environments.
• Architect and write high-quality, scalable, and testable production code.
• Optimize inference bottlenecks and manage containerized deployments.
• Run tests, perform statistical analysis, and monitor deployed models.

Skills

Python

C++

Java

Machine Learning

MLOps

Deep Learning

Generative AI

Computer Vision

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science or related field

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Keras

Scikit-learn

Job description

Overview

What Cognite is: Relentless to achieve Cognite operates at the forefront of industrial digitalization, building AI, and data solutions that solve the world’s hardest, highest-impact problems. With unmatched industrial heritage and a comprehensive suite of AI capabilities, including low-code AI agents, Cognite accelerates the digital transformation to drive operational improvements. We thrive in challenges. We challenge assumptions. We execute with speed and ownership. If you view obstacles as signals to step forward - not backwards - you’ll feel right at home here. Our Moonshot is bold: Unlock $100B in customer value by 2035, and redefine how global industry works. Join us in this venture where AI and data meet ingenuity, and together, we will forge the path to a smarter, more connected industrial future.

About The Opportunity

We are developing next-gen contextual AI for Industrial Operations, transforming unstructured industrial data (manuals, P&IDs) into structured, actionable intelligence using Deep Learning, Generative AI, and Computer Vision for efficiency, safety, and operational excellence. The Principal ML Engineer designs, builds, and deploys complex, scalable ML systems, bridging data science and software engineering to transform research prototypes into high-performance, real-time applications.

This role is fundamentally focused on engineering. We seek individuals who are builders capable of writing production-grade code, designing distributed systems, and resolving complex infrastructure challenges, rather than solely researchers developing isolated models. The successful candidate will treat machine learning models as integrated components within a highly scalable software architecture designed to withstand the demands of industrial operations.

Ownership

• You are a seasoned builder who sets the gold standard for engineering excellence on your team. You design fault-tolerant, scalable ML architectures from scratch and actively guide the team in adopting the latest best practices for production-grade AI.
• You balance technical perfection with business realities. You anticipate macro-level system bottlenecks, make tough architectural trade-offs, and seamlessly translate overarching business goals into concrete, executable technical strategies.
• You are a trusted advisor. You take ownership of large, complex projects from conception through deployment, actively mentor mid-level engineers, and define the technical standards that keep the team moving fast and safely.

Impact you bring to Cognite

Key Responsibilities

• Study, transform, and deploy data science prototypes into production environments, ensuring they are scalable, efficient, and maintainable.
• Architect and write high-quality, scalable, and testable production code (Python, Scala, C++, or Java). Build the robust APIs, distributed big data pipelines, and orchestration layers required to integrate AI into existing industrial master data systems.
• Navigate complex deployment environments. You will optimize inference bottlenecks, manage containerized deployments, and ensure our systems can handle massive volumes of unstructured industrial data reliably.
• Research and implement advanced ML algorithms (e.g., in NLP, Computer Vision) and extend existing ML libraries and frameworks.
• Run tests, perform statistical analysis, and monitor deployed models for performance, drift, and accuracy, implementing retraining strategies as needed.
• Work closely with data scientists, software engineers, and product managers to align ML solutions with business goals.
• Provide technical mentorship to junior team members, guide code reviews, and help define technical standards for the team.

Required Skills And Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field (PhD is often preferred for higher-level roles).
• 10+ years of industry experience in machine learning and software development.
• Strong programming skills in Python, C++, or Java.
• Expertise in frameworks like PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras, or Scikit-learn.
• Familiarity with MLOps best practices and cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Solid understanding of data structures, algorithms, and software architecture.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep expertise designing complex AI systems from the ground up, including fine-tuned multimodal models for dense diagrams (P&IDs, CAD), Agentic AI for multi-step reasoning, and advanced Graph RAG/Knowledge Graphs.
• Experience architecting modern lakehouses (e.g., Delta Lake, Apache Iceberg) to process and manage massive, complex datasets specific to manufacturing, supply chain, or OT (Operational Technology) environments.
• Proven ability to optimize large language models for maximum throughput and low latency, with experience deploying AI into highly secure, on-premises, or edge environments.

What Sets Senior Roles Apart

• The ability to lead large, complex projects from design through deployment.
• Experience with high-scale machine learning environments, distributed computing, and optimizing model inference latency.
• Translating complex ML concepts into business insights for stakeholders.

Learn More About Us

• Impact 2025
• Cognite's Industrial AI: Moonshot
• We’re globally recognized domain experts with an international presence that spans Phoenix, Houston, Oslo Tokyo, Bengaluru, and Abu Dhabi.

Equal Opportunity

Cognite is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment at work and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive the same level of consideration for employment.