(Senior) Back-end Engineer – Conversational AI
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
About Cognizant Digital Engineering
Cognizant is a global technology and professional services company that helps organizations modernize technology, reimagine processes, and transform customer experiences at scale. Within our Digital Engineering practice, we combine deep engineering expertise with cutting-edge technologies such as cloud, data, and AI to build innovative, scalable digital solutions.
Our teams operate in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where innovation and continuous learning are at the core. You will have the opportunity to work on advanced AI-driven solutions for leading financial services clients, shaping the next generation of intelligent, secure, and customer-centric digital platforms.
About the Role
You will work in multidisciplinary teams alongside proposition managers, journey experts, UX/UI designers, data analysts, developers, architects, business analysts, and product owners. We value pace, ownership, and impact. Together, we are building the future of our organization with strong propositions, smart products, and digital experiences that truly make a difference for young people.
Your Role
As a (Senior) Back-end Engineer – Conversational AI, you will build the backbone of our Conversational AI interface. You design and develop scalable backend services and orchestration logic that enable AI agents to interpret user intent, manage context and memory, and securely coordinate actions across systems.
Banking is rapidly evolving toward conversational AI as the primary interface between customers and our organization. Within the Growth Accelerator 0–30, we develop conversational AI capabilities and financial-specific agents (such as budgeting, onboarding, and financial insights) that integrate into a central AI agent.
In this role, you operate at the intersection of backend engineering, AI capabilities, and conversational design. You go beyond building APIs—you actively shape how conversations are powered and how intelligent agents collaborate to deliver meaningful outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and build scalable backend services supporting conversational AI experiences for Gen Z customers
- Integrate LLMs and AI agents with internal systems using robust APIs and integration patterns
- Enable reliable context management, conversation state handling, and secure data flows
- Implement and integrate agent orchestration patterns (A2A-style, MCP-inspired workflows)
- Build and integrate observability and monitoring solutions for AI-driven systems
- Collaborate closely with front-end, integration, and platform engineers
- Work alongside business analysts, designers, and data scientists to deliver end-to-end solutions
- Ensure systems meet high standards for performance, reliability, security, and compliance
Your Profile
You are a senior backend engineer with a strong technical foundation and a passion for building innovative, AI-driven solutions. You take ownership, think in outcomes, and are motivated to create impactful digital experiences for customers.
Required Skills & Experience
- Senior-level experience in backend software engineering
- Strong programming skills in Python and Java
- Proven experience designing and building REST APIs and integration solutions
- Hands-on experience integrating AI/LLM-based components into backend systems
- Experience with distributed systems and event-driven architectures
- Familiarity with orchestration patterns (A2A, workflows)
- Experience with AI-agent architectures, including tool invocation, context persistence, conversation state, and guardrails
- Knowledge of security, privacy, and compliance considerations in AI-driven environments
- Experience with observability and reliability engineering
- Strong ownership mindset with a customer- and outcome-focused approach
What We Offer (Netherlands)
- Competitive salary
- Access to Udemy and Cognizant Academy
- NS business card
- 25 paid holidays
- Laptop and smartphone
- Pension scheme
- Technology-driven organization
- Open team spirit
- International environment
Contact the Recruiter
Bill Hilhorst
Email: [email protected]
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.
