Associate Director - AI Solutions Architect (Remote - USA)

Location: Remote
Employment Type: Full-Time

Job ID: 00070552091

About Cognizant

Cognizant is one of the world's leading professional services companies, helping clients modernize technology, reimagine processes, and transform experiences so they can stay ahead in a fast-changing world. We combine deep industry expertise with innovation, engineering excellence, and emerging technologies to deliver measurable business outcomes.

We are seeking an experienced Associate Director - AI Solutions Architect to lead enterprise architecture, cloud modernization, and Generative AI transformation initiatives. This role will serve as a trusted advisor to clients, driving solution strategy, architecture design, and successful delivery of cutting-edge AI-enabled business solutions.

This is a remote position within the United States.

Role Summary

As an Associate Director, you will lead large-scale modernization and AI transformation programs, helping clients leverage cloud-native architectures, Generative AI, Agentic AI, and modern engineering practices to solve complex business challenges. You will work closely with executive stakeholders, architects, engineering teams, and clients to define technology roadmaps, establish best practices, and deliver innovative, scalable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end solution architecture engagements from discovery, strategy, and design through implementation and business adoption.
• Drive application modernization initiatives, transforming legacy platforms into scalable cloud-native architectures.
• Architect and implement enterprise solutions leveraging AWS, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Java, Spring Boot, microservices, APIs, and event-driven architectures.
• Design and guide the development of Generative AI and Agentic AI solutions using modern AI frameworks, large language models, and vector database technologies.
• Define architecture roadmaps, proof of concepts (POCs), prototypes, and strategic points of view (POVs) that align business goals with technology investments.
• Collaborate directly with client stakeholders to identify opportunities, solve complex business problems, and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Establish architecture standards, governance models, security best practices, and engineering excellence across programs.
• Mentor architects, technology leaders, and engineering teams while fostering innovation and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.
• 12+ years of experience in solution architecture, enterprise architecture, software engineering, or technology consulting.
• Hands-on experience designing and implementing Agentic AI solutions using frameworks such as LangChain, LangGraph, CrewAI, AutoGen, or similar technologies.
• Proven experience building Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) solutions utilizing vector databases such as Pinecone, Weaviate, Chroma, FAISS, or equivalent platforms.
• Strong understanding of Large Language Models (LLMs), including OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, and related ecosystem technologies.
• Experience integrating AI-assisted tools such as Microsoft Copilot, GitHub Copilot, Claude, and related technologies into enterprise transformation programs.
• Deep knowledge of Generative AI architecture, governance, security, infrastructure planning, scalability, and operational best practices.
• Experience estimating, planning, and delivering AI-driven initiatives, including enterprise-scale deployment and adoption strategies.
• Demonstrated success taking at least one AI-enabled business solution from concept through production deployment.
• Strong experience with AWS and/or GCP cloud platforms, Java, Spring Boot, microservices, and distributed systems architecture.
• Proven ability to engage with executive stakeholders and influence technology strategy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading large-scale digital transformation or cloud modernization initiatives.
• Experience deploying AI solutions in highly regulated environments.
• AI, Cloud, or Architecture certifications from AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft, OpenAI, or equivalent providers.
• Experience developing executive-level technology strategies, business cases, and transformation roadmaps.
• Consulting experience supporting Fortune 500 clients.

Salary and Other Compensation:

Applicants will be accepted till 10/25/2026

Cognizant will only consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship.

*Please note, this role cannot offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*

The annual salary for this position will be in the range of $140,000 - $160,000 depending on 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: 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.

Our strength is built on our ability to work together. Our diverse backgrounds offer different perspectives and new ways of thinking. It encourages lively discussions, creativity, productivity, and helps us build better solutions for our clients. We want someone who thrives in this setting and is inspired to craft meaningful solutions through true collaboration.

If you are content with ambiguity, excited by change, and excel through autonomy, we’d love to hear from you!

#LI-IK1

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.

If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email CareersNA2@cognizant.com for roles based in the Americas or CareersIndia2@cognizant.com for roles based in India.