Frontier Engineer (AI/Agentic)

About the role

As a Frontier Engineer (AI/Agentic), you will make an impact by helping build scalable, cost-optimized, and secure AI-enabled solutions that reimagine business processes and deliver measurable outcomes for clients. You will be a valued member of the Cognizant Forward team and work collaboratively with experienced engineers, architects, data scientists, and AI practitioners in a small, cross-functional pod.

Frontier Engineers combine modern software engineering, cloud development, and AI technologies to build scalable digital solutions. Successful candidates typically demonstrate strength in full-stack or backend application development, API design, databases, cloud platforms, and emerging AI technologies.

About Cognizant Forward

The Cognizant Forward Team is at the forefront of how Cognizant is helping organizations navigate the AI era. Bringing together leading engineers, architects and innovators, the team demonstrates what is possible when emerging technologies are applied to real business challenges. Backed by more than 30 years of transformation experience, more than $1 billion invested in responsible AI capabilities, 67 patents and one of the world's most extensively trained workforces on leading LLMs, Cognizant Forward reimagines how companies operate and unlock new possibilities for the future.

In this role, you will

• Use AI-assisted and augmented development tools to build, test, debug, deploy, and enhance software applications, APIs, and scalable, secure systems.

• Support the development of AI-enabled applications, agentic workflows, and automation solutions, including context and harness engineering.

• Design, develop, integrate, and support full-stack applications, backend services, APIs, databases, and cloud-native application components.

• Help evaluate AI-generated outputs for quality, accuracy, performance, and business relevance.

• Contribute to knowledge and context systems, retrieval workflows, testing, deployment, monitoring, documentation, and operational support.

• Apply responsible AI principles and software engineering best practices while continuously learning new tools and technologies.

Work model

At Cognizant, we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role's business and client requirements, this position may be remote or hybrid .

For hybrid arrangements, associates may be required to work 3-4 days a week from a client or Cognizant office in Plano, TX; Teaneck, NJ; Bridgewater, NJ; New York, NY; Chicago, IL; Atlanta, GA; or San Francisco, CA . The specific working arrangement will be determined based on business, client, and project needs and will be communicated during the hiring process. 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

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Data Science, Engineering, Cyber Security, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline.

• Experience building software applications through academic, internship, research, hackathon, or personal projects using one or more programming languages such as Java, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, or C#.

• Foundational knowledge of software engineering principles including object-oriented programming, data structures, algorithms, testing, debugging, and application design.

• Exposure to full-stack or backend development concepts, including APIs, databases, application architecture, and integration of front-end and back-end systems.

• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills, with strong written and verbal communication.

These will help you stand out

• Experience working with modern software development frameworks and technologies used for web, backend, or cloud application development.

• Exposure to relational or NoSQL databases, application integration patterns, and data-driven solution development.

• Exposure to cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud.

• Familiarity with source control tools such as Git, CI/CD practices, containerization, or modern software development workflows.

• Familiarity with generative AI, large language models, prompt engineering, AI agents, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), or AI-assisted development tools.

We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role.

Start Date

New hires will join the Frontier Engineer program in either January 2027 or June 2027 , based on their anticipated graduation date and business needs. Candidates will be aligned to the appropriate start cohort during the hiring process, and exact start dates will be communicated well in advance.

Salary and Other Compensation

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

• The annual salary for this position is $100,000 depending on the experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

• This position is also eligible for Cognizant's discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant's applicable plans.

Benefits

• 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

Work Authorization

Due to the nature of this position, Cognizant cannot provide sponsorship for U.S. work authorization (including participation in a CPT/OPT program) for this role.

Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.