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Cognizant

Forward Deployed Engineer

$103K - $162K Remote Mid Posted August 10, 2026

Role Description

We are seeking an experienced Forward Deployed Engineer with expertise in Python, AI technologies, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and systems integration to support and enhance mission-critical applications. The ideal candidate will be responsible for troubleshooting production issues, developing new features, implementing customer enhancements, and leveraging AI technologies to improve business processes and application reliability.

In this role, you will:

  • Troubleshoot and resolve menu, promotional content, and data ingestion issues to ensure seamless system performance and reliable data flow.
  • Investigate, analyse, and remediate application defects, production incidents, and integration challenges in a timely manner.
  • Design, develop, test, and deploy new features and customer-specific enhancements to support evolving business requirements.
  • Configure and support onboarding of new brands and store locations, ensuring successful integration and validation of system requirements.
  • Collaborate with engineering, product, operations, and support teams to identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions.
  • Perform functional, integration, and regression testing to ensure application quality, stability, and performance.

Work model We strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a remote position open to qualified applicants in United States. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though 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 * Minimum 15+ years of software development, application support, or systems integration experience. * Strong hands-on expertise in Python development with experience building scalable applications and services. * Experience working with Google Cloud Platform (GCP), including cloud-native applications and infrastructure. * Knowledge of Generative AI technologies, including Gemini Enterprise or other enterprise AI/LLM platforms. * Strong understanding of API integrations, data pipelines, and distributed system architectures. * Hands-on experience with gRPC and Protocol Buffers (Protobuf). * Experience writing and optimising SQL queries for data analysis and troubleshooting. * Working knowledge of Linux and Bash scripting. * Strong experience in test strategy, implementation, automation, and quality assurance best practices.

Salary and Other Compensation:

The annual salary for this position is between $ 102600 to $ 162500 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.

About Forward Deployed Engineering

Forward Deployed Engineers are embedded directly with customers to build custom solutions, integrate products into existing infrastructure, and bridge the gap between product engineering and customer success. The role combines deep technical skills with the ability to operate in client environments and translate business requirements into working software.

Originally pioneered by Palantir, the FDE model has spread across AI, enterprise SaaS, and cloud infrastructure companies. FDEs write production code, architect integrations, train customer teams, and feed product insights back to the core engineering organization. At companies like OpenAI, Salesforce, and Databricks, FDE teams are treated as elite engineering units that can ship custom solutions in days rather than quarters.

Typical FDE stack: Python, TypeScript, SQL, REST/GraphQL APIs, cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure), and increasingly LLM APIs and AI orchestration frameworks. Strong communication and the ability to context-switch between technical and business conversations are as important as coding ability.

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