AI Transformation Lead

Stadler Digital Labs; Coimbra; On-site; EUR 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Stadler Digital Labs in Coimbra, Portugal seeks an AI Transformation Lead to drive a comprehensive AI and digital transformation. You will design the strategy, align stakeholders, and lead the adoption of AI solutions across engineering and product teams.

The role requires hands-on AI experience, strong communication, and the ability to influence without formal authority, while ensuring governance and security in railway contexts.

Qualifications

• Background in AI & digital transformation with leadership experience.
• Experience working with business stakeholders in complex environments.
• Proven ability to influence without formal authority.
• Fluent written and spoken English and Portuguese.

Responsibilities

• Define an AI & technology transformation strategy and end-to-end roadmap.
• Redesign projects using AI as an accelerator and improve processes and architecture.
• Drive AI adoption and scale successful practices across teams.
• Define and track ROI, cycle time, and quality KPIs for AI initiatives.
• Embed AI into daily work and evolve software development end-to-end.
• Prototype and pilot novel AI workflows and productize valuable findings.
• Establish governance and best practices for responsible AI use in rail cybersecurity contexts.
• Build AI literacy and a network of champions across teams.

Skills

AI & Digital Transformation

Innovation Management

Stakeholder management

Communication & facilitation

Hands-on AI experience

Bilingual English/Portuguese

Job description

The future of rail isn't just about movement, it's about intelligence, security, and connection. We unite rail expertise with digital innovation to create smarter, safer, and more sustainable transportation solutions. Technology here speaks with purpose: accelerating digitalization, embedding cybersecurity, and shaping the next era of rail.

Behind every breakthrough are people, their talent, creativity, and drive to push boundaries. Together, we're building confidence, resilience, and a new standard for connected mobility powered by innovation.

This position is for Stadler Digital Labs, a joint venture between Stadler Rail and Critical Software serving as the digital competence center for the Stadler Group.

Check-out the website: https://stadlerdigitallabs.com

Could you be the AI Transformation Lead that we've been looking for?

Key Responsibilities

• Understand deeply how we build software/systems and run our projects today, and use that insight to define an AI & technology transformation strategy and roadmap owned end to end, from leadership vision to actionable use cases.
• Challenge and redesign how we apply technology and deliver projects (processes, architecture, methods) using AI as an accelerator, not just a tool rollout.
• Drive adoption of AI solutions and new ways of working by influencing engineering directly, and scaling what works across teams.
• Define and track adoption and business-impact KPIs (ROI, cycle time, quality) for AI initiatives.
• Remove barriers and help teams embed AI into daily work, evolving how we build software end to end.
• Experiment with AI tools and agentic workflows to find what genuinely works for us.
• Prototype, test, and apply new ways of working, then help productize what proves valuable.
• Establish standards, governance, and best practices for the responsible, secure use of AI, aligned with railway software and cybersecurity requirements.
• Build AI literacy and a network of champions across teams to sustain adoption beyond your own initiatives.

Which brings us to you, the person with

• A background in AI & Digital Transformation, Innovation Management (or similar).
• 5+ years of experience in transformation, scaling, consulting, enablement, or related roles, ideally with hands-on delivery of AI-based solutions and leading technical AI teams.
• Experience working with business stakeholders in complex organizations, ideally in an industrial, safety-critical, or regulated sector.
• Proven ability to influence without formal authority, building trust with engineers, project leads, and management.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, equally comfortable with engineers and executive leadership.
• Practical, hands-on experience with AI technologies, adoption initiatives, or digital transformation.
• Fluent written and spoken English and Portuguese.

What we provide:

• Work that fits your life, not the other way around
• Offices designed to make you feel like you belong
• A team that knows how to work hard, but also how to have fun
• Pay that makes you feel valued, plus performance-based rewards
• Your growth is our priority: training, support, and opportunities!

Join us and help us to improve the efficiency and sustainability of rail mobility.