Frontier Engineer, AI)

About the Role

As a Frontier Engineer (AI/Agentic), you will build scalable, cost-optimized, and secure AI-enabled solutions that reimagine business processes and deliver measurable outcomes for clients. You will work collaboratively with experienced engineers, architects, data scientists, and AI practitioners in a small, cross-functional pod.

Key Responsibilities

• Use AI-assisted and augmented development tools to build, test, debug, deploy, and enhance software solutions and scalable, secure systems.
• Support the development of AI-enabled applications, agentic workflows, and automation solutions, including context and harness engineering.
• Help evaluate AI-generated outputs for quality, accuracy, performance, and business relevance.
• Contribute to knowledge and context systems, retrieval workflows, testing, deployment, monitoring, documentation, and operational support.
• Apply responsible AI principles and engineering best practices while continuously learning new tools and technologies.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Data Science, Engineering, Cyber Security, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline.
• Recent graduate or early-career professional with technical experience gained through coursework, internships, co-ops, research, military experience, certifications, hackathons, capstone projects, or personal projects.
• Demonstrated interest in software development, cloud technologies, artificial intelligence, data engineering, or automation.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Curiosity, adaptability, and the ability to collaborate effectively in a team-oriented environment.

Qualifications That Will Help You Stand Out

• Experience with one or more programming languages such as Python, R, MATLAB, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, or C#.
• Exposure to cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud.
• Familiarity with generative AI, large language models, prompt engineering, or AI-assisted development tools.
• Exposure to APIs, automation platforms, databases, software development methodologies, or data engineering concepts.
• Familiarity with source control tools such as Git and collaborative development practices.

Work Model

Hybrid position requiring 3-4 days a week in a Cognizant office in Plano, TX; Teaneck, NJ; Bridgewater, NJ or client locations such as NY, San Francisco, DFW, Chicago, Charlotte, Boston, Phoenix, Atlanta or LA.

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual salary: $100,000.
• Eligible for Cognizant's discretionary annual incentive program.
• 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.

Work Authorization

Cognizant cannot provide sponsorship for U.S. work authorization for this role.