Principal AI Specialist

Bechtel Global Corporation; Reston (VA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 231,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental leave

Paid time off

Paid holidays

401(k)

Job summary

Bechtel’s Manufacturing and Technology unit seeks a Principal AI Specialist to serve as the senior technical authority for digital and AI solutions across EPC projects. The role translates business needs into scalable AI capabilities, guiding design, pilot, and production at scale within a part-time telework framework.

You will shape standards, drive secure, data-driven processes, and lead teams across locations with strong executive communication. Travel to sites will be required.

Qualifications

• Experience taking AI/advanced analytics from concept through production deployment with measurable outcomes.
• Deep understanding of EPC project execution and data across engineering, procurement, and construction.
• Expert-level command of data/AI platforms, including cloud data services, data pipelines, model development, and LLM deployment with grounding.
• Knowledge of enterprise security architecture, identity/access control, and handling of confidential client data.
• Ability to lead multi-discipline teams without direct authority and influence stakeholders through technical credibility.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including presenting to executives and client reps.
• Willingness to travel to project and fabrication sites as required.

Responsibilities

• Owns the architecture and roadmap for the M&T digital and AI portfolio, aligning with project needs.
• Leads evaluation, design, deployment of AI, data, automation, and digital solutions.
• Establishes standards and governance for scalable, repeatable solutions across projects.
• Defines performance/quality requirements and ensures delivery readiness.
• Resolves complex technical challenges across projects, vendors, and functions.
• Ensures security, privacy, data governance, and compliance with contractual requirements.
• Mentors professionals and develops adoption resources to grow digital/AI capability.

Skills

AI platforms

Cloud data services

Model development

Data governance

Security & privacy

Technical leadership

Executive communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field

Job description

parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, 401(k)

• Relocation Authorized: National - Family
• Telework Type:Part-Time Telework
• Work Location: Reston, VA, Chandler, AZ, Houston, TX
• Salary Range: For Reston, VA Location only $159,700 - $231,000 annually (salary range is based on market data; final salary offered is determined by education, experience, and qualifications of the applicant.)

Extraordinary teams building inspiring projects:

Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world's infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place.

Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers' objectives to create a lasting positive impact. We serve the Infrastructure; Nuclear, Security & Environmental; Energy; Mining & Metals, and the Manufacturing and Technology markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations.

Core to Bechtel is our Vision, Values and Commitments . They are what we believe, what customers can expect, and how we deliver. Learn more about our extraordinary teams building inspiring projects in our Impact Report .

Project Overview:

Bechtel Manufacturing and Technology (M&T) is an exciting and growing business that serves the increasing demand of EPC services for customers in the semiconductor (manufacturing facilities and supply chain); data center, electric vehicle (batteries, charging infrastructure, and production); and life sciences markets.

M&T strives to exceed our customer objectives through utilizing our agility, innovative technologies, and world class talent. M&T will solve the industries toughest challenges, building both our company and the world for the future.

Headquartered in the U.S. with employees in various states, M&T also has colleagues in the United Kingdom, India, and other locations while we actively pursue exciting opportunities in other parts of the world. We are looking for talented people to join our team that are passionate about making a difference and contributing to historical projects that will have a lasting impact on society.

Job Summary:

The Principal AI Specialist serves as the senior technical authority for digital and artificial intelligence solutions across the Manufacturing & Technology GBU. The role sits within the M&T Digital Solutions organization and works across functions and projects, translating business and execution needs into deployable AI digital capability. It is a senior individual-contributor position: influence is exercised through technical depth, architecture ownership, and the ability to move a solution from concept through pilot to production at scale. The incumbent leads the definition, design, and institutionalization of AI and data-driven work processes that support integrated EPC execution - including engineering automation, data operations, digital solutions for site and fabrication, and the responsible deployment of generative and analytical AI. The position is expected to shape GBU-level standards rather than administer them, to represent M&T in enterprise and corporate technical forums, and to develop the capability of less experienced specialists across the organization. This position is designated as part-time telework per our global telework policy and will require at least three days of in-person attendance per week at the assigned office or project. Weekly in-person schedules will be determined by the individual and their supervisor, in consultation with functional or project leadership.

Major Resposibilities

• Owns the technical architecture and roadmap for the M&T digital and AI portfolio, ensuring alignment with business priorities and project needs.
• Leads evaluation, selection, design, development, and deployment of AI, data, automation, and digital solutions.
• Establishes standards, reference architectures, and governance to enable scalable, repeatable solutions across projects.
• Defines technical performance, quality, and acceptance requirements and provides assurance of solution delivery and operational readiness.
• Resolves complex technical challenges spanning projects, systems, vendors, and functional organizations.
• Ensures compliance with security, privacy, data governance, responsible AI, and contractual requirements.
• Supports business development, client engagement, and strategic growth through technical leadership and innovation.
• Mentors technical professionals, develops adoption and training resources, and strengthens digital and AI capability across the GBU.
• Monitors emerging technologies and recommends opportunities for adoption, investment, or pilot implementation.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Requires bachelor's or master's degree (or international equivalent) and 13-15 years of relevant experience or 17-19 years of relevant work experience.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated record of taking AI or advanced analytics solutions from concept through production deployment at enterprise or multi-project scale, with measurable business outcomes.
• In-depth working knowledge of project execution work processes across engineering, procurement, and construction, and of the data these processes produce and consume.
• Expert-level command of modern data and AI platforms, including cloud data services, data pipeline and integration design, model development and evaluation, and the deployment of large language model applications with retrieval and grounding.
• Working knowledge of enterprise security architecture, identity and access control, and the handling of confidential and client-restricted data.
• Proven ability to lead multi-discipline teams without direct authority, and to influence functional and project leadership through technical credibility.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical recommendations to executive audiences and to client representatives.
• Ability to manage several concurrent initiatives, set priorities under competing demands, and maintain progress across geographically distributed teams.
• Willingness to travel to project and fabrication sites as required.

For decades, Bechtel has worked to inspire the next generation of employees and beyond! Because our teams face some of the world's toughest challenges, we offer robust benefits to ensure our people thrive. Whether it is advancing careers, delivering programs to enhance our culture, or providing time to recharge, Bechtel has the benefits to build a legacy of sustainable growth. Learn more at Bechtel Total Rewards

Diverse teams build the extraordinary:

As a global company, Bechtel has long been home to a vibrant multitude of nationalities, cultures, ethnicities, and life experiences. This diversity has made us a more trusted partner, more effective problem solvers and innovators, and a more attractive destination for leading talent.

We are committed to being a company where every colleague feels that they belong-where colleagues feel part of "One Team," respected and rewarded for what they bring, supported in pursuing their goals, invested in our values and purpose, and treated equitably. Click here to learn more about the people who power our legacy.

At Bechtel, our employees enjoy a competitive total rewards package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, along with optional disability and supplemental insurance options, generous paid time off (160 hours annually, accrued 6.16 hours per pay period), nine paid holidays, paid parental leave, discretionary bonuses, and a well-designed 401K plan with matching and profit-sharing components

Bechtel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age,national origin, disability, citizenship status (except as authorized by law),protected veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Applicants with a disability, who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, may e-mail their request to [e-mail]