Principal – Enterprise AI Strategy & Transformation

About the role

Cognizant's Principal – Enterprise AI Strategy & Transformation role sets strategic direction for AI-augmented delivery and the AI-era operating model across the enterprise. Based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, the Principal serves as Cognizant's senior Frontier authority, partnering with C-suite clients to co-design AI transformation strategies, govern frontier-model evaluation and adversarial-AI risk, and shape a Frontier practice. The role requires 4 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in India (hybrid).

What you’ll do

• Set the strategic direction for AI-augmented delivery or the AI-era operating model across the enterprise
• Co-design AI transformation strategies directly with C-suite client stakeholders and produce enterprise transformation blueprints
• Define evaluation frameworks for frontier-model deployment, including red-team protocols, safety benchmarks, and responsible-AI standards
• Govern adversarial-AI risk and AI safety policy, and lead incident-response strategy at the enterprise perimeter
• Own the direction of a Frontier practice and help structure outcome-based commercial models
• Maintain the Frontier learning community, methodologies, and gold standards while consistently demonstrating the Cognizant Way to Lead

What you’ll bring

• 20+ years of experience with demonstrated enterprise AI leadership and recognized authority in AI delivery or AI-era operations
• Deep expertise in AI transformation strategy, frontier-model evaluation, red-team governance, adversarial machine learning, and AI safety policy
• Proven ability to engage C-suite and board-level stakeholders and translate complex AI themes into enterprise transformation strategies and clear business outcomes
• Experience leading or shaping an advanced AI, frontier technology, delivery transformation, or AI-era operating model practice
• Strong capability in multi-agent coordination strategy, cross-business influence, standards-setting, and outcome-based commercial structuring
• Demonstrated track record of building Frontier talent, learning communities, methodologies, and reusable gold standards for enterprise-scale adoption
• External recognition as a thought leader or domain authority in AI delivery, responsible AI, AI safety, or AI-era operations
• Ability to earn and sustain the Frontier Principal designation through sustained Frontier leadership, external authority, and Principal panel readiness

Skills