Generative AI Developer

Senior Developer – AI/ML & Generative AI (Airflow, Python, MLOps)

Location: Hybrid (Chicago, IL)
Experience: 6–10+ years

About Cognizant

Cognizant is a leading global professional services company, helping organizations modernize technology, reimagine processes, and transform customer experiences. We leverage expertise in AI, cloud, and digital engineering to deliver measurable outcomes across industries.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Senior Developer with strong expertise in data engineering, AI/ML, and Generative AI to build scalable, production-grade solutions.

This role focuses on developing Airflow-orchestrated pipelines, operationalizing machine learning models, and building reusable AI frameworks that drive smarter business decisions and deliver meaningful impact.

Key Responsibilities

Data Pipelines & Workflow Orchestration

• Design and implement robust data and model pipelines using Apache Airflow
• Orchestrate complex workflows ensuring reliability, scalability, and performance across hybrid environments

AI & Generative AI Development

• Develop Generative AI services to transform enterprise data into insights and content
• Ensure solutions meet accuracy, safety, and compliance standards
• Apply prompt engineering and model integration techniques in business applications

ML Engineering & Productionization

• Build production-ready machine learning solutions from experimental prototypes
• Develop scalable services with monitoring, logging, and fault tolerance
• Ensure consistent delivery of value to downstream systems

MLOps & Automation

• Implement MLOps best practices, including automated training, evaluation, deployment, and rollback
• Enhance development velocity through CI/CD automation and lifecycle management

Data Engineering & Feature Management

• Build and maintain feature pipelines and data preparation processes
• Ensure high-quality, governed, and traceable data for model training and inference

Observability & Reliability

• Implement monitoring, logging, and alerting for pipelines and models
• Detect and resolve issues related to data quality, model drift, and system performance

Collaboration & Delivery

• Partner with data scientists, engineers, and product stakeholders to translate ideas into scalable solutions
• Contribute to backlog prioritization and iteration planning

Standards, Governance & Best Practices

• Ensure security, privacy, and responsible AI principles are embedded in solutions
• Promote best practices in version control, testing, and CI/CD

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Evaluate emerging tools in Generative AI and MLOps
• Support experimentation through A/B testing and model comparison frameworks

Mentorship & Leadership

• Mentor junior developers on Airflow, debugging, and deployment strategies
• Foster a collaborative and growth-oriented team environment

Required Qualifications

• Strong experience in Python-based development for data and AI applications
• Hands-on expertise with Apache Airflow (DAG design, operators, scheduling optimization)
• Solid understanding of machine learning concepts (supervised/unsupervised learning, evaluation, feature engineering)
• Practical experience with MLOps practices (packaging, deployment, monitoring, lifecycle management)
• Experience implementing Generative AI solutions (prompt design, model integration)
• Strong SQL and data modeling skills for high-performance data pipelines

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Exposure to cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices
• Knowledge of Responsible AI frameworks and governance models
• Experience working in enterprise-scale, hybrid environments
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills

Certifications (Preferred)

• TensorFlow Developer Certification
• AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty
• Equivalent certifications in AI/ML or MLOps

Compensation

• Base Salary Range: $120,000 – $130,000 per year
• Final compensation is based on experience, skills, and location
• Eligible for performance-based bonuses and incentive compensation

Benefits

Cognizant offers a comprehensive benefits package to support your well-being and career growth:

• Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Financial Benefits: 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance
• Time Off: Generous PTO, paid holidays, and parental leave
• Learning & Development: Access to certifications, training programs, and career advancement opportunities
• Flexible Work: Hybrid work model to support work-life balance
• Employee Experience: Wellness programs, employee resource groups, and recognition initiatives

Why Join Cognizant?

• Work on cutting-edge Generative AI and ML solutions
• Collaborate with global clients and cross-functional teams
• Grow your career in a high-demand, innovation-driven space
• Be part of a company committed to inclusion, diversity, and impact