Forward Deployed Engineer
Archetype: Builder · Learner · Pair programmer
Role Summary
You are an on-the-ground builder who writes real production code inside client environments from day one. You come in hungry, move fast, and turn ambiguous problems into working prototypes within hours — not weeks. Your credibility comes entirely from working software, not slides.
What You Will Do
• Embed directly at client sites to prototype and deploy agentic AI workflows using frameworks such as LangGraph, CrewAI, AutoGen, or AWS Bedrock Agents — shipping working code, not slide decks.
• Build RAG pipelines end-to-end: chunking strategies, vector store configuration (Pinecone, pgvector, Weaviate), retrieval tuning, and response evaluation.
• Instrument LLM-powered applications with observability tooling (LangSmith, Braintrust, Arize) so clients can see exactly what their agents are doing in production.
• Participate actively in daily client stand-ups and technical reviews, communicating clearly about progress, blockers, and trade-offs with both engineers and business stakeholders.
• Rapidly iterate on prototypes based on user feedback — from zero to demo in 24–48 hours is the expectation, not the exception.
• Document deployment architectures, prompt engineering decisions, and integration patterns so knowledge persists after you rotate off an engagement.
• Contribute reusable agent templates and accelerators to Cognizant's internal AI toolkit between engagements.
Technical Foundation
• Strong Python; basic TypeScript / JavaScript
• REST API design and integration
• Git, CI/CD basics, containerisation (Docker)
• SQL and at least one cloud platform (AWS / Azure / GCP)
• Hands-on LLM experience (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini APIs)
GenAI / Agentic AI Requirements
• Has built at least one end-to-end RAG or agent application — personal projects count as strongly as work experience
• Understands prompt engineering, few-shot design, and chain-of-thought prompting
• Familiar with agentic orchestration concepts: tool use, memory, planning loops
• Knows how to evaluate LLM output quality — even informal logging or manual review frameworks
What Makes You Stand Out
• You have shipped something real with AI — a GitHub repo, a side project, a hackathon win — not just certificates
• You are comfortable being wrong in front of a client and pivoting immediately
You ask 'what does done look like?' before writing a single line of code
What we offer
- The chance to work with impact. Here, you’re empowered to bring your biggest thinking to help our company and clients improve everyday life.
- Ownership over your career. Stay at the top of your game through our award-winning learning and development ecosystem. And when your ambitions change or we offer new opportunities, we help you pivot by providing reskilling, on-the-job learning and guidance to find new roles that might be a better fit.
- The opportunity to thrive on a high caliber team with heart. We celebrate each other’s experiences and perspectives and promote a sense of belonging through our affinity groups and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
- A comprehensive total rewards package, including a competitive salary and a pension plan with matching contributions.
- Flexible health and financial benefits to support you and your eligible dependents—from day one.
- True work-life balance. Be at your best through paid time off, flexible work arrangements, volunteering opportunities, social events, and so much more.
About us
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, building the bridge between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, realize tangible returns and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant.
Other employment-related information
Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial or local laws.
If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email [email protected] with your request and contact information.
Language requirements vary depending on roles, but we ask that all candidates have basic English proficiency for company-wide communications purposes. For roles based in Quebec, professional English proficiency is required, as you’ll deliver services to and collaborate with stakeholders outside the province who may not speak French.
