Lead AI Engineer, Consulting Principal

Lead AI Engineer, Consulting Principal

We are looking for a Lead AI Engineer who functions as a force multiplier. You are not just an expert in code; you are a credible leader who bridges the gap between traditional enterprise software and the frontier of AI. Your primary mission is to build a self-sustaining ecosystem of AI talent—teaching your team how to "fish" in the world of AI Engineering and empowering them to pass those skills to the next generation.

In this role, you will:

1. AI Engineering Leadership & Mentorship
   • Teach to Fish: Actively pair with developers to transition them from traditional software roles to high-performing AI Engineers.
   • Scale the Knowledge: Establish "mentor-the-mentor" programs to ensure AI Engineering practices are disseminated across the entire organization.
   • Lead by Doing: Remain hands-on in the codebase, demonstrating how to apply Extreme Programming (XP)—such as Pair Programming and TDD—to non-deterministic AI outputs.
2. Advanced AI Integration
   • Context & Prompt Engineering: Architect complex, structured prompt engineering and context engineering pipelines that move beyond simple chat inputs into sophisticated agentic workflows.
   • AI-PDLC Mastery: Drive the AI Product Development Lifecycle, utilizing spec-driven development and agent-as-code patterns to ensure AI features are predictable, testable, and aligned with business goals.
   • Data Set Engineering: Oversee the curation and engineering of high-quality data sets for model grounding and fine-tuning.
3. Modern Enterprise Architecture
   • Java Full-Stack: Leverage deep experience in the Spring Framework to build robust, scalable backends that treat AI models as integrated system components.
   • AI Tooling & Frameworks: Deploy and manage advanced tools including Google Vertex AI, Langchain, CrewAI, MCP, and GitHub Copilot.

Work Model: 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 regular travel (up to 50%) and presence in client or Cognizant offices on the US East Coast or Central Time Zones. 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:

• Technical Foundation: 8+ years in Java Full-Stack development with significant experience in Spring-based architectures.
• Methodology: Expert in Extreme Programming (XP); ability to adapt XP practices (like continuous integration of LLM prompts) to AI workflows.
• AI Specialization: Hands-on experience with A2A (Agent-to-Agent) communication, ADK (AI Development Kits), and context-aware system design.
• Leadership: Proven track record of leading digital engineering teams and a passion for teaching others.

We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role.

Work Authorization: Cognizant will only consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship (H-1B, L-1B, L-1A, etc.)

Salary and Other Compensation: Applications will be accepted until January 15, 2026. The annual salary for this position is between $122,400 - $223,500 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: 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

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.