AI Forward Deployed Engineer

Cognizant; Raleigh (NC); Remote; USD 130,000 - 159,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) plan with company contributions

ESPP

EAP

Paid time off

Parental leave and fertility programs

Learning and development programs

Wellness resources

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to partner with clients and rapidly design, build, and deploy AI, data, cloud, and digital solutions that deliver measurable business outcomes.

In this role you will lead technical discussions, run discovery workshops, translate business needs into scalable architectures, and own delivery across client initiatives. Remote in the United States with occasional travel, collaboration with Cognizant Consulting teams is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field.
• 5+ years of software engineering, solution architecture, or similar client-facing roles.
• Strong programming experience in Python, Java, C#, JavaScript/TypeScript, or Go.
• Experience building cloud-native solutions on Azure/AWS/GCP with APIs, microservices, Docker and Kubernetes.
• Solid understanding of software architecture, enterprise integrations, and stakeholder management.
• Ability to translate business needs into scalable technical solutions and drive delivery.

Responsibilities

• Partner with client stakeholders to understand objectives and requirements.
• Lead discovery workshops and architecture envisioning sessions.
• Design, develop, and deploy cloud-native apps, APIs, and integrations.
• Build AI/ML/RAG solutions and intelligent automation capabilities.
• Own delivery across client-facing initiatives with measurable outcomes.

Skills

Years of experience

Programming languages

Cloud architectures

Enterprise integrations

Client-facing consulting

Solution design

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

Tools

Azure

AWS

Google Cloud

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD pipelines

Job description

As a Forward Deployed Engineer , you will make an impact by partnering directly with clients to rapidly design, build, and deploy innovative AI, data, cloud, and digital solutions that deliver measurable business outcomes. You will be a valued member of the Cognizant Consulting team and work collaboratively with clients, business stakeholders, architects, product managers, data scientists, and engineering teams.

In this role, you will serve as a trusted technical advisor, helping organizations accelerate digital transformation initiatives through modern cloud architectures, enterprise integrations, and next-generation AI solutions.

In This Role, You Will

• Partner directly with client stakeholders to understand business objectives, operational challenges, and technical requirements while serving as a trusted technical advisor.

• Lead discovery workshops, technical assessments, and solution envisioning sessions to translate business needs into scalable solution architectures and implementation roadmaps.

• Design, develop, and deploy cloud-native applications, APIs, microservices, and enterprise integrations that accelerate time-to-value.

• Build and implement Generative AI, Agentic AI, machine learning, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) solutions, including AI copilots, intelligent workflows, and autonomous agents.

• Own technical delivery across client-facing initiatives, driving rapid iteration, production readiness, adoption, and measurable business outcomes.

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 the United States . Occasional travel may be required to client sites, Cognizant offices, workshops, solution design sessions, and project-related meetings.

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're 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

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field.

• 5+ years of experience in software engineering, solution architecture, technical consulting, customer-facing engineering, or similar roles.

• Strong programming expertise in one or more languages such as Python, Java, C#, JavaScript/TypeScript, or Go.

• Experience developing cloud-native solutions on Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud Platform, including APIs, microservices, CI/CD pipelines, Docker, and Kubernetes.

• Strong understanding of software architecture, enterprise integrations, stakeholder management, and client-facing consulting engagements.

• Experience translating business requirements into scalable technical solutions and driving projects from concept through production deployment.

These Will Help You Stand Out

• Experience deploying Generative AI, Agentic AI, machine learning, or advanced analytics solutions in enterprise environments.

• Hands-on experience with LLM platforms such as Azure OpenAI, OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, or Google Gemini.

• Experience with AI frameworks and orchestration platforms including LangChain, LangGraph, Semantic Kernel, vector databases, and knowledge graph solutions.

• Experience building AI copilots, intelligent automation solutions, RAG architectures, and enterprise knowledge management platforms.

• Experience working directly with clients in consulting, solution engineering, customer engineering, or forward deployed engineering capacities.

• Experience delivering technology solutions across industries such as Healthcare, Financial Services, Retail, Manufacturing, or Logistics.

• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills.

Salary and Other Compensation

The annual salary for this position is anticipated to be between $130,000 and $158,500 , depending on experience, qualifications, geographic location, skills, and other job-related factors.

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

Cognizant offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support the health, wellbeing, and financial security of our associates and their families, including:

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

• 401(k) plan and company contributions

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Paid holidays and paid time off (PTO)

• Paid parental leave and fertility assistance programs

• Learning and development programs, certifications, and career advancement opportunities

• Wellness and mental health resources

• Career growth and internal mobility opportunities

Benefits may vary by location and employment status and are subject to change.

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted until September 30, 2026 .

Cognizant reserves the right to close this posting earlier based on application volume, business needs, or hiring timelines.

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.