Project Manager

About Cognite

Cognite works on the cutting edge of industrial digital transformation, creating AI and data products that address some of the most complex and high-value challenges in modern industry. Backed by deep industrial expertise and a broad AI portfolio that includes low-code AI agents, the company helps customers accelerate transformation and improve operations. Its long-term goal is to unlock $100B in customer value by 2035 and shape a smarter industrial world.

Role overview

As Project Manager, you will take full ownership of major industrial AI implementation programs from contract close to deployment and measurable value delivery. This is a high-accountability role where you will connect customer goals, project execution, and business outcomes while working closely with internal teams and external stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

• Lead high-priority industrial AI implementation projects end to end, from kickoff through closure, with accountability for scope, timeline, budget, quality, and customer results.
• Turn business use cases into measurable KPIs and run value realization workshops to establish baselines and track impact.
• Create and maintain project plans covering scope, scheduling, staffing, budget, risks, quality, and dependencies.
• Coordinate complex OT/IT integrations using agile ways of working and ongoing stakeholder engagement.
• Keep delivery aligned with customer priorities such as operational excellence, safety, sustainability, and cost efficiency through reporting and executive updates.
• Provide regular status, risk, scope, and financial updates to Account Executives, Customer Business Executives, and other stakeholders.
• Work with Product teams on any committed product features or deliverables and escalate gaps through the agreed governance process.
• Manage project financials including bookings, revenue recognition, cost monitoring, margin analysis, and forecasting.
• Serve as the customer’s main contact during execution, including governance meetings, steering committees, and executive briefings.
• Oversee customer satisfaction, partner and vendor coordination, and project documentation.
• Support change management activities such as training and user adoption together with the Customer Business Executive.
• Act as a bridge between customers and internal teams such as Engineering, Product, and Customer Success to resolve issues and manage expectations.
• Identify expansion opportunities by understanding customer needs and coordinating with relevant internal stakeholders.
• Apply PMO playbooks and contribute lessons learned and process improvements to strengthen future delivery.

What success in this role looks like

• Delivering measurable business value, not just completing tasks.
• Linking project outputs to business benefits and reporting data-backed results that build trust.
• Consistently delivering on time and within budget across complex, multi-stakeholder programs.
• Influencing both technical and business stakeholders without direct authority.
• Capturing learnings and improving delivery processes for scale and repeatability.
• Living Cognite’s values of Impact, Ownership, and Relentlessness in a collaborative, customer-focused environment.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, business, or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years of project management experience in SaaS, cloud, or enterprise software delivery, ideally with complex industrial or enterprise IT/AI implementations.
• Background in the software industry is mandatory.
• Experience across the SaaS implementation lifecycle, including onboarding, training, and change management.
• Proven success managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives in fast-moving settings and leading cross-functional teams such as Data Scientists, Engineers, and Solution Architects.
• Strong knowledge of industrial sectors such as Energy, Manufacturing, Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Life Sciences, Utilities/Power, and Renewables.
• Solid financial understanding, including project realization tracking and forecasting.
• Working knowledge of Agile/Scrum and PMO methods such as PMP or PRINCE2 to manage delivery and risk.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Comfort using tools like Jira, Confluence, MS Project, or Smartsheet.
• Fluency in both English and German.
• Ability to travel up to 25% for customer engagements.

Preferred background

• Professional certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, or Agile/Scrum.
• Exposure to data platforms, cloud environments such as Azure or AWS, or industrial IoT.
• Experience with data engineering, analytics, AI, or machine learning projects.

Equal opportunity

Cognite is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and considers all qualified applicants equally for employment.

Location

The role is based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and is onsite.