Director of Data Engineering & AI Platforms

Black & Veatch; Overland Park (KS); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% ESOP ownership

Flexible work options

Comprehensive benefits

401k with company match

Professional development

Job summary

Black & Veatch is seeking a Director to lead Data Engineering & AI Platforms, overseeing enterprise data platforms to deliver secure, scalable, and value-driven solutions. The role partners with executive stakeholders to set strategy and investment priorities across architecture, cybersecurity, and GenAI enablement.

You will lead a 20–25 person team of data engineers, platform engineers, and AI specialists, driving governance, standards, and responsible AI practices while ensuring platform

Qualifications

• 15+ years in data engineering or enterprise tech.
• 10+ years leading technical teams and partners.
• Proven ownership of enterprise data platforms.
• Experience with Azure data services and AI tooling.

Responsibilities

• Own enterprise‑wide accountability for all data and AI platforms' performance and value.
• Set platform strategy and roadmap aligned to priorities.
• Lead a 20–25 person team across data/AI platform delivery.
• Establish platform ownership and operating model across services.
• Own end‑to‑end lifecycle from design to retirement.
• Enforce enterprise data & AI engineering standards.
• Deliver reusable enterprise‑grade services for ingestion, transformation, storage, model lifecycle.

Skills

Leadership

Data architecture

Cloud platforms

AI/GenAI enablement

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering/Analytics

Tools

Azure data services

Microsoft Fabric

Azure AI Foundry

Job description

Date: Sep 19, 2026

Location: Overland Park, KS, US

Company: Black & Veatch Family of Companies

B&V Special Projects Corp.

As an employee-owned company, our people are Black & Veatch. We put them at the center of everything we do and empower them to grow, explore new possibilities and use their diverse talents and perspectives to solve humanity's biggest challenges in an ever-evolving world. With over 100 years of innovation in sustainable infrastructure and our expertise in engineering, procurement, consulting and construction, together we are building a world of difference.

Why Black & Veatch?

At Black & Veatch, you’ll be part of work that matters—designing, creating, and building the infrastructure communities rely on every day, from concept through execution.

We care about how the work gets done as much as what we build. Safety is built into every decision, and people look out for each other—speaking up, collaborating, and doing the right thing because it affects real lives.

You’ll work alongside teams solving complex challenges and turning ideas into solutions that perform in the real world—gaining hands‑on experience across projects, technologies, and disciplines.

Ownership shows up in how we work. We take responsibility for outcomes, follow through on commitments, and take pride in what we deliver. As a 100% employee‑owned company, employees share in the long‑term success we build together.

With flexible ways of working and meaningful development opportunities, you’ll build a career you can be proud to stand behind.

The Opportunity

The Digital & Information Technology organization is advancing enterprise data and AI foundations to enable scalable analytics, automation, and intelligent applications. This Director sets the vision, strategy, and operating model for enterprise Data Engineering & AI Platforms. This role has enterprise accountability for all data and AI platforms—including strategy, delivery, operations, governance, and performance. The Director leads an organization of 20–25 engineers and architects and is responsible for ensuring these platforms are secure, reliable, scalable, and delivering measurable business value across the enterprise. This leader partners with executive stakeholders to prioritize investment, shape enterprise data & AI architecture, and accelerate AI‑enabled outcomes, while enforcing strong governance, responsible AI practices, and platform standardization.

Key Responsibilities

• Own enterprise‑wide accountability for all data and AI platforms, including performance, reliability, scalability, cost, and business value realization.
• Set and drive the enterprise platform strategy and roadmap aligned to business priorities, architecture, cybersecurity, and AI/GenAI enablement.
• Lead and scale a high‑performing organization (20–25 professionals) across data engineering, platform engineering, and AI platform delivery.
• Establish clear platform ownership and operating model, ensuring consistency, accountability, and transparency across all platform services.
• Own end‑to‑end lifecycle management—from platform design and build to operations, optimization, and retirement.
• Establish and enforce enterprise data & AI engineering standards
• Drive platform product mindset, delivering reusable, enterprise‑grade services for data ingestion, transformation, orchestration, storage, and model lifecycle management.
• Partner with Architecture, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, and business leaders to align on platform direction and investment priorities.
• Lead financial accountability, including budget ownership, cost optimization, and vendor/MSP performance management.
• Ensure enterprise governance, security, and Responsible AI controls are embedded across all data and AI platforms.
• Drive innovation across analytics, machine learning, generative AI, and agentic AI, enabling next‑generation digital capabilities.
• Build a culture of ownership, accountability, and engineering excellence, including hiring, coaching, and succession planning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Data Engineering, Analytics, or related field; or equivalent relevant experience.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in data engineering, cloud platforms, analytics platforms, AI/ML platforms, or related enterprise technology disciplines.
• 10+ years of leadership experience managing technical teams, external partners, or complex delivery organizations.
• Proven track record of owning enterprise platforms with full accountability for outcomes.
• Demonstrated leadership in enterprise data platform strategy, cloud engineering, and AI enablement in a complex, matrixed environment.
• Deep experience with Azure data services, Microsoft Fabric, Azure AI Foundry, and model lifecycle management.
• Experience leading blended teams across onshore/offshore models and managing MSP or strategic partner performance.
• Strong understanding of modern data architecture, integration patterns, governance, and secure platform design.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with execution discipline and a roll‑up‑your‑sleeves leadership style.
• Microsoft Azure, Fabric, AI, or architecture certifications preferred.
• Experience in EPC, engineering, construction, or other asset‑intensive industries is a plus.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• 18+ years of experience
• All applicants must be able to complete pre‑employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

Hybrid or flexible work options may be offered after the first 90 days of employment based upon manager discretion, job performance and work assignments.

Salary Plan

ITS: Information Technology Service

Job Grade

020

Black & Veatch endeavors to make www.bv.com/careers accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process because of a disability, please contact the Employee Relations Department at [phone] or via our accommodations request form. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only; you may not use this contact information to inquire about the status of applications. General inquiries about the status of applications will not be returned.

Black & Veatch is committed to being an employer of choice by creating a valuable work experience that keeps our people engaged, productive, safe and healthy.

Our comprehensive benefits portfolio is a key component of this commitment and offers an array of health care benefits including but not limited to medical, dental and vision insurances along with disability and a robust wellness program.

To support a healthy work‑life balance, we offer flexible work schedules, paid vacation and holiday time, sick time, and dependent sick time.

A variety of additional benefits are available to our professionals, including a company‑matched 401k plan, adoption reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, vendor discounts, an employment referral program, AD&D insurance, pre‑taxed accounts, voluntary legal plan and the B&V Credit Union. Professionals may also be eligible for a performance‑based bonus program.

We are proud to be a 100 percent ESOP‑owned company. As employee‑owners, our professionals are empowered to drive not only their personal growth, but the company's long‑term achievements - and they share in the financial rewards of the success through stock ownership.

By valuing diverse voices and perspectives, we cultivate an authentically inclusive environment for professionals and are able to provide innovative and effective solutions for clients.

BVH, Inc., its subsidiaries and its affiliated companies, complies with all Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and regulations. Black & Veatch does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy status or other status protected by law.

Notice to External Search Firms

Black & Veatch does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. Black & Veatch Talent Acquisition engages with search firms directly for hiring needs.

Nearest Major Market

Olathe

Nearest Secondary Market

Kansas City

Job Segment

Construction, Engineer, Systems Engineer, Engineering