AI Customer Engineer, Seattle, Washington, United States

AI Customer Engineer, Director

About the role

As an AI Customer Engineer, you will make an impact by leading client discovery, solution shaping, and AI-driven opportunity development that helps organizations realize tangible business value from GenAI and AI. You will be a valued member of Cognizant’s AI Sales Engineering organization and work closely with sales, industry specialists, design and engineering teams, and ecosystem partners to bring high-value AI use cases from ideation through deal closure.

In this role, you will:

Lead early-stage discovery and art-of-the-possible ideation sessions, helping clients and account teams explore how GenAI and AI can address critical business challenges
Translate ambiguous client needs into solution hypotheses, conceptual flows, and “north star” AI scenarios that articulate business impact and differentiation
Shape end-to-end AI solution architectures, defining data, ML, integration patterns, and partner components
Develop and present client-ready solution artifacts, including proposals, statements of work, architecture decks, value frameworks, and demo narratives
Orchestrate cross-functional pursuit teams, ensuring alignment across sales, industry specialists, engineering, delivery, and ecosystem partners
Guide opportunities through governance checkpoints and ensure smooth handoff to delivery teams with validated architectures and clear assumptions

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 2-3 days per week in a client or Cognizant office in the United States. 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

Experience in AI/ML, GenAI, or solution architecture, with exposure to large language models and enterprise AI platforms
Proven ability to lead structured discovery, ideation workshops, and technical deep dives with client stakeholders
Demonstrated success shaping and progressing complex AI-driven opportunities, including proposals and solution design
Strong understanding of enterprise data architectures, ML pipelines, cloud platforms, and system integration
Ability to collaborate across sales, engineering, design, and delivery teams to influence outcomes

These will help you stand out

Experience creating AI prototypes, MVPs, or proofs of concept during pursuit or pre-sales cycles
Exposure to hyperscalers, AI platforms, and partner ecosystems
Track record of orchestrating multi-disciplinary pursuit teams and managing solution trade-offs
Strong storytelling skills that connect technical solutions to business value
Background in AI consulting, sales engineering, or technical advisory roles

Benefits

Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
Paid holidays and paid time off
401(k) plan with employer contributions
Long-term and short-term disability coverage
Paid parental leave
Employee Stock Purchase Plan

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.

Additional employment information
Compensation 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.

Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview.

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, state or local laws.