AI Engineer

Cognizant; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 58,500 - 71,500; 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

A leading technology solutions provider is seeking an innovative AI Engineer to join their Data Science team. The successful candidate will be responsible for building and deploying machine learning models, performing data exploration, and collaborating with various stakeholders. Key qualifications include proficiency in Python and SQL, along with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field. The position offers a competitive salary of $65,000 and various benefits including medical insurance and paid time off.

Qualifications

• Portfolio demonstrating AI skills through projects or open-source contributions (required).
• Ability to articulate technical concepts to various stakeholders.
• Understanding of data security, encryption, and compliance best practices.

Responsibilities

• Build, train, and deploy machine learning and deep learning models.
• Perform data exploration, feature engineering, and statistical analysis.
• Collaborate with teams to understand requirements for effective AI solutions.
• Monitor and optimize AI models for performance.

Skills

Python

SQL

MLOps practices

Machine learning concepts

Good problem-solving skills

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in computer science, data science, artificial intelligence

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

AWS SageMaker

Azure ML

GCP Vertex AI

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Position Overview

Cognizant is seeking a highly skilled and innovative AI Engineer to join our AI & Data Science team. The ideal candidate will have exposure in Python, and SQL and will be responsible for data exploration and AI development. This role involves designing and developing scalable AI solutions and data pipelines for structured, semi‑structured, and unstructured data, enabling advanced analytics and intelligent automation across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Build, train, and deploy machine learning and deep learning models, including Generative AI (e.g., LLMs, diffusion models) and Agentic AI solutions.
• Perform data exploration, feature engineering, and statistical analysis to support model development.
• Ingest, process, and analyze structured (e.g., relational databases), semi‑structured (e.g., JSON, XML), and unstructured data (e.g., text, images, logs) from diverse sources using Python, SQL.
• Collaborate with data scientists, engineers, and business stakeholders to understand requirements and deliver impactful AI solutions.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, data dictionaries, and model cards.
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize AI models and data workflows for performance and scalability.
• Ensure compliance with data governance, security, and privacy policies.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in AI, Generative AI, and Agentic AI technologies.
• Familiarity with MLOps practices.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• A bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, or a related discipline.
• A portfolio of personal projects, academic work, or contributions to open‑source projects that demonstrate your AI skills.
• Exposure in programming skills in Python and SQL.
• Good problem‑solving, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Knowledge with cloud AI/ML platforms (e.g., AWS SageMaker, Azure ML, GCP Vertex AI) and Agentic frameworks (Langgraph, Lang chain, Crew.ai etc.).
• Hands‑on experience with at least one AI/ML framework (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Hugging Face).
• Understanding of core machine learning concepts, algorithms, and models (e.g., supervised vs. unsupervised learning, regression, classification, clustering).
• Solid understanding of Generative AI (e.g., LLMs, GANs) and Agentic AI concepts.
• Familiarity with essential libraries for data science and machine learning (e.g., Pandas, NumPy, scikit‑learn).
• Knowledge of containerization and CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Understanding of data security, encryption, and compliance best practices.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast‑paced environment.

Location

New hires will be hired at the Cognizant office in Plano, TX or Teaneck, NJ, where you will work alongside other experienced Cognizant associates delivering technology solutions. Applicants must be willing to relocate to this major geographic area. While we attempt to honor candidate location preferences, business needs and position availability will determine final location assignment.

Start Date

New hires will start in January or February 2026. While we will attempt to honor candidate start date preferences, business need and position availability will determine final start date assignment. Exact start date will be communicated with enough time for you to plan effectively.

Salary and Other Compensation

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

The annual salary for this position is $65,000.00 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.

Why Choose Us?

Cognizant delivers solutions that draw upon the full power and scale of our associates. You will be supported by high‑caliber experts and employ some of the most advanced and patented capabilities. Our associate’s diverse backgrounds offer multifaceted perspectives and fuel new ways of thinking. We encourage lively discussions which inspire better results for our clients.

Benefits

Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• 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 hourly rate, 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.

Work Authorization

Due to the nature of this position, Cognizant cannot provide sponsorship for U.S. work authorization (including participation in a CPT/OPT program) for this role.

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.