Principal Product Lead, RAI Platform
Location: US
Reports To: Chief Responsible AI Officer
Job Type: Full-time
Applications will be accepted until July 31st, 2025.
The annual salary for this position is between $174,000 - $300,000 depending on the experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program and stock awards, 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
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.
Role Overview
The Principal Product Lead for the Responsible AI (RAI) Platform defines the product strategy, roadmap, and capabilities that translate Responsible AI principles into usable, scalable, and differentiating solutions. This role bridges governance requirements, technical framework methodologies, and real-world user needs to build tools and services that make Responsible AI both achievable and practical.
This is a dual- strategic role: internally focused on integrating existing IP, collaborating across R&D, engineering, and framework teams, and delivering exceptional user experience; externally focused on competitive positioning, client value, and research and standards alignment; The Product Lead drives the evolution of Cognizant’s RAI platform as both an internal enabler and a client-facing differentiator.
Key Responsibilities
1. RAI Platform Strategy & Vision
•Define the product strategy and roadmap for Cognizant’s Responsible AI platform and tools.
•Shape a cohesive product vision that integrates governance needs, technical feasibility, and user experience.
•Identify strategic product opportunities from internal IP, research, market signals, and client engagements.
•Position the RAI platform as a modular, scalable system that supports both internal adoption and external delivery.
•Define platform differentiation in relation to emerging industry practices and Responsible AI tooling ecosystems.
2. Product Development & Capability Definition
•Translate Responsible AI principles and governance requirements into platform features, services, and reusable modules.
•Prioritize tooling needs including bias detection, explainability support, compliance monitoring, and risk assessment tools.
•Develop detailed product requirements and user stories that balance governance obligations with usability.
•Ensure capabilities are built for integration into AI lifecycle environments (MLOps, model registries, monitoring systems).
•Manage the product lifecycle, driving iterative releases, performance tracking, and continuous improvement.
3. User-Centered Design & Experience
•Champion a user-first design philosophy that makes complex governance requirements intuitive and actionable.
•Collaborate with design teams to build interfaces and workflows tailored to data scientists, developers, auditors, and business stakeholders.
•Map diverse user journeys across internal teams and client environments to optimize adoption and value realization.
•Develop accessible training, onboarding, and enablement materials to increase platform stickiness and usability.
4. Cross-Functional Product Leadership
•Coordinate with Solution Architects to ensure field teams can easily implement RAI capabilities across varied client contexts.
•Work with Marketing, Communications, and Business Units to craft product messaging and go-to-market positioning.
5. Innovation, Research & Market Engagement
•Identify emerging trends in Responsible AI tooling, assurance mechanisms, and compliance automation.
•Engage with internal research labs and academic institutions to incorporate innovation into product development.
•Monitor global regulatory movements and shape the product roadmap to support anticipatory compliance.
•Represent Cognizant in industry discussions, conferences, standards development, and thought leadership forums.
6. Requirement and Qualifications
Required Experience
•10+ years in product management or product strategy, ideally in AI/ML, governance, or enterprise platform domains.
•Demonstrated success bringing complex technical products to market or internal adoption in large-scale environments.
•Experience managing cross-functional product teams and engaging diverse stakeholder groups.
•Track record in defining and delivering capabilities that address both regulatory and business imperatives.
Knowledge & Competencies
•Solid working experience of AI/ML systems, development workflows, and associated risks.
•Knowledge of governance-aligned product domains: explainability, fairness, privacy, and auditability.
•Familiarity with global regulatory standards (e.g., EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, ISO 42001).
•Strong skills in user research, product lifecycle management, and cross-functional stakeholder engagement.
•Strategic mindset with the ability to align long-term vision with near-term execution.
Qualifications
•Advanced degree in Computer Science, Product Management, AI Ethics, or related field.
•Experience with compliance or AI assurance tools.
•Exposure to regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, or public sector.
•Certifications in product management (e.g., Pragmatic, AIPMM) or responsible technology governance.
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 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 is one of the world's leading professional services companies, transforming clients' business, operating, and technology models for the digital era. Our unique industry-based, consultative approach helps clients envision, build, and run more innovative and efficient businesses. Headquartered in the U.S., Cognizant (a member of the NASDAQ-100 and one of Forbes World’s Best Employers 2024) is consistently listed among the most admired companies in the world. Learn how Cognizant helps clients lead with digital at www.cognizant.com.
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.
While our system allows applications in all languages, job required language(s) and proficiency level(s) vary. However, basic English proficiency is required for Company-wide communications purposes. Further, for roles located in Quebec, professional English proficiency is required to communicate with our global clients.