Principal Implementation Project Manager

Cognite•Houston, TX

About The Position

Cognite operates at the forefront of industrial digitalization, building AI and data solutions that solve some of 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. Our moonshot is bold: unlock $100B in customer value by 2035 and redefine how global industry works. What Cognite is Relentless to achieve We thrive in challenges. We challenge assumptions. We execute with speed and ownership. If you view obstacles as signals to step forward - not step back - you’ll feel at home here. Join us in this venture where AI and data meet ingenuity, and together, we forge the path to a smarter, more connected industrial future. How you’ll demonstrate Ownership The Principal Project Manager at Cognite is responsible for leading transformative initiatives in industrial AI that drive operational excellence and deliver substantial customer value. With a targeted mission to create $100 billion in customer value by 2035, this role ensures full accountability for project scope, budget, quality, and financial performance. The position centers on aligning projects with customers’ strategic priorities—including operations optimization, safety enhancement, and sustainability advancement—to ensure measurable business impact and sustained revenue growth for Cognite

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Computer Science, Business, or related fields.
10+ years or more of project management experience, preferably in SaaS, cloud, or enterprise software delivery.
Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects in fast-paced environments.
Strong knowledge of Agile, Scrum, or hybrid methodologies.
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency with project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, MS Project, or Smartsheet.
Willingness to travel as needed for client engagements.

Nice To Haves

Experience with industrial clients in sectors like Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, and Utilities.
Familiarity with data platforms, cloud infrastructure (Azure, AWS), or industrial IoT.
Certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, or Agile/Scrum.
Experience with SaaS implementation lifecycle, including onboarding, training, and change management.
Exposure to data engineering, analytics, or machine learning projects is advantageous.

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end project delivery from kickoff to closure, including scope, budget, quality, and customer outcomes, ensuring project success and financial performance.
Translate use case objectives into quantifiable business KPIs and lead Value Realization Workshops to establish baselines and demonstrate impact.
Develop detailed project plans covering scope, schedule, resources, budget, risks, and quality, proactively managing dependencies and blockers.asdf
Manage complex system integrations connecting OT/IT data sources with agile methodology and continuous stakeholder engagement.
Ensure project delivery aligns with customer strategic goals such as operational excellence, safety, sustainability, or cost reduction through regular reporting and executive briefings.
Ensure that Account Executives (AEs) and Customer Business Executives (CBEs) are regularly updated on project status, scope, risks, and financial performance, enabling full transparency into delivery progress and customer outcomes.
Partners with the Product team for any product features, capabilities, or deliverables committed as part of the customer agreement, escalating gaps through defined governance channels (Value Delivery to Product interface) to safeguard contractual commitments, time-to-value, and customer satisfaction.
Handle project financials including bookings, revenue recognition, cost tracking, margin analysis, and forecasting, reporting transparently to Portfolio Manager.
Act as the main point of contact for customers during project execution, managing governance processes, leading steering committee meetings, and providing executive briefings with clear communication.
Oversee customer satisfaction management and follow-up, manage partner vendor relationships, and maintain process documentation.
Coordinate change management activities such as user training and adoption support to achieve over 80% solution adoption within six months of go-live.
Act as a primary liaison between clients and internal teams (Engineering, Product, Customer Success), managing stakeholder communication, expectations, risk, and issue resolution throughout the project lifecycle.
Build business cases to justify continued investment and identify expansion opportunities by understanding customer challenges.
Leverage Cognite PMO playbooks and best practices while contributing to continuous improvement through lessons learned and process enhancements.
Influence technical and business stakeholders toward shared outcomes through leadership without authority, fostering alignment through clarity.
Leading teams and stakeholders through change, fostering buy-in, and minimizing resistance during project transitions or organizational shifts
Prioritizing customer outcomes, proactively identifying ways to deliver and demonstrate value, and ensuring satisfaction throughout the project lifecycle.
Establishing a culture of trust, accountability, and performance; supporting the growth of team members; addressing conflicts in a constructive manner
Seeking feedback, capturing lessons learned, and driving process enhancements for future projects.
Demonstrate project value by connecting deliverables to business benefits, tracking KPIs, and reporting data-driven results to strengthen customer trust and partnership.
Market and maintain Cognite’s values: Impact, Ownership, Relentlessness , fostering collaboration, innovation, and customer‑centric delivery as part of a global project management team