Senior Java Engineer with AI - Hybrid

Cognizant; McLean (VA); Hybrid; USD 64,000 - 102,000; 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

Cognizant is seeking an experienced software engineer with a strong background in AI-enabled development, Java, and cloud-native architectures. The role emphasizes integrating AI-assisted practices into daily development, leading Agile/DevOps for AI lifecycles, and delivering enterprise-grade Java applications.

The candidate will collaborate across data science, ML, software, QA, and operations, ensuring secure, scalable solutions while driving continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in Software Engineering, AI-enabled Development, DevOps, or related technology domains.

Responsibilities

• Utilize AI pair-programming tools to accelerate software development, debugging, refactoring, and solution design activities.
• Partner with engineering teams to integrate AI-assisted development practices into daily delivery workflows.
• Guide developers in effectively leveraging AI recommendations while maintaining engineering ownership and accountability.
• Ensure AI-generated suggestions comply with coding standards, security requirements, and architectural principles.
• Measure and improve developer productivity through responsible adoption of AI-assisted programming capabilities.
• Lead Agile and DevOps practices across the end-to-end AI lifecycle, including model development, deployment, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Implement MLOps and AIOps processes supporting version control, experimentation, deployment automation, and governance.
• Establish CI/CD pipelines for AI models, training workflows, testing, validation, and production releases.
• Coordinate collaboration among data scientists, ML engineers, software developers, QA, operations, and business stakeholders.
• Drive continuous delivery, operational excellence, and measurable improvements in AI solution reliability and business value.
• Design, develop, and maintain enterprise-grade applications using Java, Spring Boot, Microservices, REST APIs, and cloud-native architectures.
• Apply object-oriented programming principles, design patterns, and software engineering best practices to deliver scalable solutions.
• Optimize application performance, memory utilization, concurrency handling, and system reliability.
• Implement secure coding practices, automated testing, code reviews, and continuous integration processes.
• Collaborate with architecture, DevOps, QA, and business teams to deliver high-quality software aligned with organizational objectives.

Skills

AI-enabled development

DevOps

Agile/Scrum

Stakeholder management

Java engineering

Tools

GitHub Copilot

Microsoft Copilot

OpenAI platforms

Job description

Important Disclaimers

• Please note: A few of our roles may require in-person interviews at Cognizant offices or client locations, depending on project or client needs.

In This Role, You Will

AI Pair-Programming

• Utilize AI pair-programming tools to accelerate software development, debugging, refactoring, and solution design activities.
• Partner with engineering teams to integrate AI-assisted development practices into daily delivery workflows.
• Guide developers in effectively leveraging AI recommendations while maintaining engineering ownership and accountability.
• Ensure AI-generated suggestions comply with coding standards, security requirements, and architectural principles.
• Measure and improve developer productivity through responsible adoption of AI-assisted programming capabilities.

Agile & DevOps for AI Lifecycle

• Lead Agile and DevOps practices across the end-to-end AI lifecycle, including model development, deployment, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Implement MLOps and AIOps processes supporting version control, experimentation, deployment automation, and governance.
• Establish CI/CD pipelines for AI models, training workflows, testing, validation, and production releases.
• Coordinate collaboration among data scientists, ML engineers, software developers, QA, operations, and business stakeholders.
• Drive continuous delivery, operational excellence, and measurable improvements in AI solution reliability and business value.

Java Engineering

• Design, develop, and maintain enterprise-grade applications using Java, Spring Boot, Microservices, REST APIs, and cloud-native architectures.
• Apply object-oriented programming principles, design patterns, and software engineering best practices to deliver scalable solutions.
• Optimize application performance, memory utilization, concurrency handling, and system reliability.
• Implement secure coding practices, automated testing, code reviews, and continuous integration processes.
• Collaborate with architecture, DevOps, QA, and business teams to deliver high-quality software aligned with organizational objectives.

Locations: Mc Lean, VA

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 requiring 3 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in Mclean- VA. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs.

What You Need To Be Considered (Required)

• 8+ years of experience in Software Engineering, AI-enabled Development, Test Automation, DevOps, or related technology domains.
• Strong expertise in AI-assisted software development tools such as GitHub Copilot, Microsoft Copilot, OpenAI-based platforms, or equivalent solutions.
• Proven experience with Java, Spring Boot, Microservices, REST APIs, and cloud-native application development.
• Hands-on experience in AI deployment, observability, MLOps, DevOps automation, and CI/CD pipeline implementation.
• Strong understanding of software quality engineering, automated testing, code review, and secure development practices.
• Experience implementing AI governance, responsible AI controls, model monitoring, and operational risk management.
• Demonstrated ability to work in Agile/Scrum environments, managing deliverables, dependencies, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder-management, communication, and collaboration skills across engineering, architecture, product, and business teams.

Salary And Other Compensation

Applications will be accepted until 11/15/2026.

The annual salary for this position is from $64 to $102K 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.

Benefits

• 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 salary, 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.