AI Specialist

About the role

As an AI Specialist you will make an impact by defining and articulating AI governance frameworks. You will be a valued member of the Cybersecurity team and work collaboratively with managers, team members and clients.

In this role, you will:

• Lead customer workshops to assess AI readiness from identity, data, and compliance perspectives.
• Define and articulate AI governance frameworks covering policy, access, data protection, and risk management.
• Translate complex Microsoft security and compliance capabilities (Entra ID, Purview, Defender, M365, Azure AI) into actionable recommendations.
• Advise on the secure enablement of generative AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot, Copilot Studio, and Azure AI Foundry
• Design pragmatic approaches for data boundary enforcement, labeling, DLP, and prompt-safety controls.
• Review identity and access management for AI workloads—MFA, Conditional Access, privileged identity controls, and just-in-time elevation.
• Recommend monitoring, auditing, and incident-response strategies for AI misuse or data leakage.
• Present findings and next steps to IT Management stakeholders with clear business and compliance implications.

Work model: Remote

We strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a remote position open to qualified applicants in the United States. 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

• 5+ years cloud security, compliance, or architecture, ideally in Enterprise Microsoft environments.
• Proven experience advising enterprise customers on secure adoption of M365 & AI workloads (Copilot, Copilot Chat, Copilot Studio, AI Foundry).
• Deep hands-on knowledge of security, governance & management on Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Fabric, AI Foundry, Microsoft 365 Administration
• Working hands-on knowledge of security, governance & management on Microsoft Entra, Defender for Cloud Apps, Azure Policy
• Understanding of responsible AI principles, privacy by design, and regulatory alignment (GDPR, ISO, NIST).
• Strong ability to lead short, outcome-driven consulting engagements and communicate with executives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of simplifying complex security & governance topics.

These will help you stand out

• Previous consulting or customer-facing experience at a major Microsoft partner.
• Familiarity with AI governance frameworks, model risk management, and data-driven decisioning.
• Working knowledge of Azure AI, AI Foundry, Microsoft Fabric security and compliance configurations.
• Experience in building RACI models, acceptable-use policies, or risk registers for AI or cloud platforms.
• Exposure to FinOps or cost optimization in Microsoft 365 and Azure environments

*Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*

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.

Salary and Other Compensation:

Application will be accepted until December 31, 2025

The annual salary for this position is between $85,000- $108,000 USD 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 is 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.