Principal Field Engineer

Principal Field Engineer

Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Cognite - AI for Industry

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovative AI solutions and transform industrial challenges into actionable strategies.
  • Company: Cognite, a leader in industrial digitalization and AI solutions.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
  • Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with global presence and excellent career growth.
  • Why this job: Join us to redefine industry with cutting-edge AI and make a real impact.
  • Qualifications: 3+ years in engineering or technical software development, strong Python skills required.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

Cognite operates at the forefront of industrial digitalization, building AI and data solutions that solve the world’s hardest, highest-impact problems. With unmatched industrial heritage and a comprehensive suite of AI capabilities, including low-code AI agents, Cognite accelerates the digital transformation to drive operational improvements. We thrive in challenges and execute with speed and ownership. Our Moonshot is bold: Unlock $100B in customer value by 2035, and redefine how global industry works. Join us in this venture where AI and data meet ingenuity, and together, we will forge the path to a smarter, more connected industrial future.

How you’ll demonstrate Ownership

  • Client Engagement & Moving Strategy to Reality: Partner with Account Executives to prioritise strategic opportunities and act as the technical lead for complex engagements. You will move clients from high-level strategy to live, functioning versions of Cognite’s solutions through Fast AI Prototyping via Cognite Atlas AI™ and Cognite Data Fusion®.
  • Agentic Solution Development: Lead the design and implementation of first-of-their-kind industrial agents. You will leverage the Atlas AI workbench to automate complex industrial workflows, ensuring solutions are technically feasible, scalable, and grounded in the contextualised data foundation of our Industrial Knowledge Graph.
  • Technical Representation & Use Case Design: Lead use case workshops and briefings, translating functional and non-functional requirements into deliverable high-level use cases. You will build executive confidence by delivering client-focused demos and reference architectures that prove the ROI of Industrial AI.
  • Product Innovation & Field Leadership: Act as the critical bridge between the field and Cognite’s Product organisation. Translate 'field friction' and deployment learnings into actionable product requirements and scalable best practices that strengthen Cognite’s position as the leader in Industrial DataOps.

The Impact you bring to Cognite

  • Industrial Architecture Expertise: Ability to design scalable architectures that unify siloed IT/OT/ET data into a single source of truth using Cognite Data Fusion®.
  • Agentic AI Proficiency: Demonstrated experience building with LLMs (Gemini, Claude, GPT-4) and a deep understanding of the Agentic AI landscape to create trusted, mission-critical industrial agents via Cognite Atlas AI™.
  • Full-Stack Solution Engineering: Ability to orchestrate and build end-to-end prototypes—integrating GenAI components, CDF data models, and legacy customer systems—using scalable software practices and open-source AI frameworks.
  • Technical Evangelism & Strategic Influence: The ability to distil complex technical AI solutions into compelling, value-driven narratives. You can pivot seamlessly between deep architectural sessions with engineers and strategy briefings with C-level executives.

Required Qualifications

  • 3+ years in forward deployed engineering/pre-sales engineering, or technical software development, ideally in enterprise SaaS, cloud platforms, or industrial software companies.
  • Strong engineering background. Preferred fields include but are not limited to Computer Science, Mathematics, Software Engineering, Physics, and Machine Learning.
  • A strong foundation in Python and a deep understanding of the GenAI landscape (embeddings, RAG, and prompt chaining).
  • Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
  • Ability and interest to travel up to 50% as needed to be 'on the ground' where the impact happens.

Preferred Experience

  • Education or experience in the industrial space (e.g., Petroleum, Chemical, Mechanical, or Control System Engineering).
  • Previous customer facing or sales experience.
  • You’ve worked with 'messy' real-world variables from the Industries we work in (Energy, Oil and Gas, Chemicals, Life Sciences, Discrete) and understand, for example, why data quality in a refinery is harder than data quality in a web app.
  • You are excited to bridge the gap between traditional heavy industry and the future of Autonomous Operations via Cognite Data Fusion® and Agentic AI.

Cognite is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment at work and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive the same level of consideration for employment.

Principal Field Engineer employer: Cognite - AI for Industry

Cognite is an exceptional employer that champions innovation and collaboration in the realm of industrial digitalization. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we offer opportunities for professional development and hands-on experience in cutting-edge AI solutions. Our inclusive work culture fosters creativity and ownership, making it an ideal environment for those eager to tackle complex challenges and contribute to transformative projects in a globally recognised company.

Cognite - AI for Industry

Contact Details:

Cognite - AI for Industry Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Field Engineer

Join Engineering Meetups!

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We think you need these skills to ace Principal Field Engineer

Client Engagement
Technical Leadership
Fast AI Prototyping
Industrial Architecture Design
Agentic AI Proficiency
Full-Stack Solution Engineering
Technical Evangelism

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Principal Field Engineer, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.

Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at Cognite - AI for Industry a clear picture of the value you can bring.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to Cognite - AI for Industry specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!

Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.

How to prepare for a job interview at Cognite - AI for Industry

Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles

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Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills

Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.

Relate Your Experience to the Role

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Know Your Tools and Software

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