AI Architect JD: Role Description:We are seeking a highly skilled and passionate Consulting Architect / Lead to define and deliver the end-to-end vision, architecture, and successful production deployment of complex, autonomous AI systems (Agentic AI). This role requires a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on technical expertise to design scalable, secure, and high-performing AI/ML solutions on leading cloud platforms. The candidate will join Cognizant’s AI Centre of Excellence (CoE), a strategic unit dedicated to driving our ambition to become an industry leader in AI. As part of this team, the candidate will work on high-impact, high-visibility projects that shape the future of AI-driven solutions for global enterprises. Beyond project delivery, the role offers ample opportunities for research, innovation, and the development of groundbreaking ideas that push the boundaries of AI technologyThe candidate must have:· Strong client-facing skills with ability to translate complex AI concepts into clear, compelling business solutions· Track record of delivering rapid POCs and transitioning them into production-ready solutions.· Deep knowledge of modern AI ecosystems: LLM and Agentic frameworks, model fine-tuning, Context engineering, vector databases, cloud AI services (AWS, Azure, GCP).· Should have an understanding of prompt/context engineering, LLM fine-tuning, and vector stores (e.g. Pinecone, FAISS, Weaviate).· Proven experience implementing observability for models (drift, accuracy, bias, and performance).The Candidate must be able to:· Serve as the authority on product rationalization, critical architectural choices, trade-offs, and technology stack selection. · Work closely with Product Owners to define requirements, Data Scientists, Business Stakeholders acting as the primary technical interface. · Lead the design and development of agentic systems. This involves selecting the right frameworks (like CrewAI, LangGraph, etc or proprietary solutions) and architectural patterns. · Engineer dynamic context using memory modules, prompt templates, and retrieval strategies. · Define and enforce guardrails and context governance across agent interactions and LLM outputs. Prioritize security by implementing secure architecture patterns · Design and automate Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, leveraging tools like Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, or similar systems Minimum Qualifications:· Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, Information Systems, or a related quantitative field (or equivalent experience) from reputed institutions· 10+ years of experience in business consulting/Product management/data analysis roles with a focus on enterprise-scale data systems and tooling· Proficiency in GenAI stack and scripting language such as Python. Hands-on experience with agentic AI frameworks such as LangChain, LangGraph, CrewAI, or equivalent, including designing multi-agent workflows and tool-augmented reasoning systems. · Demonstrated experience supporting AI/ML projects with relevant data analysis and business understanding· Good to have experience in working with large datasets, distributed data systems (e.g., Hive, Spark), and data visualization platforms (e.g., Tableau, PowerBI)Soft Skills:· Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.· Ability to lead technical discussions and influence decision-making. About Cognizant: Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap 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, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai 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.