AI Engineer, SMB

Cognitrio; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 247,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognitrio in New York City seeks an AI Engineer to work directly with SMB customers, driving end-to-end engagements from discovery with our Sales team to direct technical execution.

You will architect and deploy AI-native systems and workflows hands-on, balancing long-term goals with security, maintainability, cost-efficiency, and operational impact, in a hybrid office model (3 days in‑office per week).

Qualifications

• 3+ years of full-stack software engineering experience with a heavy focus on APIs and security hardening across the stack.
• 2+ years of direct AI experience, developing agentic solutions and scalable workflows focusing on token consumption and cost optimization.
• Experience with traditional automation, including RPA or legacy workflow tools.
• GCP expert with 3+ years of applied experience in Google Cloud Platform; Professional Developer Certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Drive customer execution in close partnership with the customer’s stakeholders and internal Sales teams.
• Translate business objectives and long-term goals into scalable, AI-native systems and automated workflows.
• Architect and deploy solutions with rigorous testing and validation with nominated customer stakeholders.
• Communicate clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences, maintaining momentum.
• Manage program lifecycles, including timelines, milestones, and deadlines, while meeting Cognitrio’s standards.
• Balance technical trade-offs around security hardening, cost-efficiency, and operational change management for the client.

Skills

Full-stack software engineering

APIs

Security hardening

AI experience

Agentic workflows

GCP

RPA

Education

Google Cloud Platform Professional Developer Certification

Tools

Google Cloud Platform

Job description

Business Technical Operations - New York City

The Business Technical Operations team at Cognitrio works directly with SMB customers to understand their business deeply, build lasting relationships, and translate complex requirements into technical solutions that align with their long‑term strategy and immediate operational needs.

This team sits at the true intersection of business and IT. We bring deep experience in how businesses run and the technical expertise to move them forward. Our team often embeds ourselves closely alongside our customers – think forward‑deployed engineer territory. If you enjoy solving real‑world business problems through the lens of cutting‑edge technology, you’ll find your home here.

About the Role

We are looking for an AI Engineer working directly with our SMB customers. In this role, you will be responsible for driving end‑to‑end engagement with customers – from initial discovery alongside our Sales team to direct technical execution.

You will architect and build AI‑native systems and workflows hands‑on, balancing the customer’s long‑term goals with critical considerations for future‑proofing, security, maintainability, and operational impact.

Location: This role is based in New York City, NY. We use a hybrid work model (3 days in‑office per week).

In this role, you will:

• Drive customer execution in close partnership with both the customer’s stakeholders and our internal Sales teams.
• Translate business objectives and long‑term goals into scalable, AI‑native systems and automated workflows.
• Architect and deploy solutions directly, ensuring rigorous testing and validation with nominated customer stakeholders.
• Communicate with purpose, maintaining momentum and providing clear transparency on progress to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Manage program lifecycles, including timelines, milestones, and deadlines, while ensuring all deployments meet Cognitrio’s internal standards.
• Balance technical trade‑offs, specifically regarding security hardening, cost‑efficiency, and operational change management for the client.

You might thrive in this role if you:

• Have 3+ years of full‑stack software engineering experience, with a heavy focus on APIs and security hardening across the entire stack.
• Have 2+ years of direct AI experience, specifically developing agentic solutions and workflows built with scale, token consumption, and cost‑optimization in mind.
• Are experienced with traditional automation, including RPA (Robotic Process Automation) or legacy workflow tools.
• Are a GCP expert, with 3+ years of applied experience in Google Cloud Platform (Professional Developer Certification preferred).
• Stay ahead of the curve, constantly keeping up‑to‑date with industry trends, emerging LLM capabilities, and new technologies.
• Are comfortable with ambiguity, thriving in rapidly changing conditions and evolving customer needs.

About Cognitrio

Cognitrio is a young, fast‑paced software service company dedicated to helping businesses move toward and leverage an AI‑driven future. Our long‑term vision is centered on enabling companies to not be limited by their technology, but instead by the imagination of their people.

Our mission is clear: we design, build, and run AI‑native solutions that help organizations accelerate outcomes so their teams can stay focused on their core business.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the New York City Fair Chance Act.

Compliance

To notify Cognitrio that you believe this job posting is non‑compliant, please email [e-mail].

Compensation

$135K - $247K + Equity

Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. We share this range voluntarily to support pay transparency and align with NYC guidance as we grow.

We can share more about total compensation, including equity and benefits, during the hiring process.

info This role has application limits – please note we have set up limits for applications across roles. Candidates may not apply more than 3 times in any 180 day span.