AI Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), Seattle, Washington, United States

AI Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)

About the role

As an FDE 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

Salary and Other Compensation:

Applications will be accepted until July 15, 2026

The annual base salary for this position is between $200,000 - $235,000 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.

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

Over Cognizant
Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is een bouwer van AI-oplossingen en een leverancier van technologiediensten. Wij slaan de brug tussen AI-investeringen en ondernemingswaarde door het bouwen van full-stack AI-oplossingen voor onze klanten. Onze diepgaande kennis van sectoren, processen en engineering stelt ons in staat om de unieke context van een organisatie te verankeren in technologische systemen. Deze systemen versterken het menselijk potentieel, realiseren tastbare resultaten en geven wereldwijde ondernemingen een voorsprong in een snel veranderende wereld. Ontdek hoe op cognizant.ai of @cognizant.

Aanvullende arbeidsinformatie
De informatie over de beloning is correct op de datum van deze vacature. Cognizant behoudt zich het recht voor om deze informatie op elk moment te wijzigen, met inachtneming van de toepasselijke wetgeving.

Van sollicitanten kan worden verwacht dat zij gesprekken bijwonen, persoonlijk of via een videogesprek. Daarnaast kan van kandidaten worden gevraagd om tijdens elk gesprek een geldig, door de overheid uitgegeven identiteitsbewijs (zoals een identiteitskaart of paspoort) te tonen.

Cognizant is een werkgever die gelijke kansen biedt. Je sollicitatie en kandidatuur worden niet beoordeeld op basis van ras, huidskleur, geslacht, religie, levensovertuiging, seksuele geaardheid, genderidentiteit, nationale afkomst, handicap, genetische informatie, zwangerschap, veteranenstatus of enige andere eigenschap die wordt beschermd door federale, regionale of lokale wetgeving.