Sr Engineer, Data & AI

Crown Castle; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 149,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Scholarship program

Job summary

Crown Castle is seeking a Sr. Engineer – Data & AI in Houston, TX to translate data and AI strategies into prioritized roadmaps and delivered capabilities. You will work across data platforms, analytics, governance, and automation, combining hands-on execution with product ownership.

The role requires deep technical fluency, collaboration with engineers and data scientists, and experience shaping measurable business outcomes and budgets. Hybrid work in Houston is supported.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Computational Science, or another highly quantitative discipline.
• Master’s or a PhD in a relevant quantitative or computational discipline preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain integrated roadmaps and product backlogs across data platforms, engineering, analytics, AI and ML, governance, and automation.
• Serve as Technical Program Manager for complex Data & AI engagements and lead the Agentic AI program from business case to value realization.
• Coordinate execution across technical teams, stakeholders, vendors, and enterprise functions, managing dependencies and risks.
• Serve as Product Manager for internal Data & AI capabilities, balancing user needs with business value and feasibility.
• Develop prototypes, data products, and dashboards using code, APIs, and AI-enabled tools.

Skills

Data governance

AI & ML

Data engineering

Analytical mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field

Master’s or PhD preferred

Tools

Python

SQL

Job description

Houston, TX 8020 Katy Fwy
Houston, TX 77024, USA

• Hybrid
• Information Technology
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: SRENG012520

Description

For more than three decades, Crown Castle has led the way in shared communications infrastructure, delivering profitable solutions by connecting communities, businesses, and people, and enabling each to thrive with reliable access to voice and data in more places, faster than ever before. When you join Crown Castle, you become part of a dynamic team of passionate and collaborative professionals engaging in complex challenges and contributing to projects that shape the future of life and work.
ABOUT THE ROLE

The Sr. Engineer – Data & AI is a highly technical, hands-on, and execution-oriented individual who will help translate the organization’s Data, Analytics, AI, governance, and automation strategies into prioritized roadmaps, measurable business outcomes, and delivered capabilities. Working across data platforms, engineering, analytics, data science, AI, governance, and RPA, this role will combine technical execution with product ownership, portfolio planning, and coordination of strategic initiatives. The successful candidate will have the technical depth to work credibly with engineers, architects, data scientists, analysts, and business stakeholders while personally investigating problems, analyzing data, developing prototypes and lightweight solutions, and improving processes.

The role will also serve as a trusted extension of the Director of Data, Analytics & AI, taking ownership of selected priorities such as business-value measurement, executive materials, budgets and forecasts, organizational commitments, and other delegated activities. The ideal candidate is energetic, intellectually curious, highly organized, and exceptionally detail-oriented, with the communication skills, judgment, and initiative to move effectively across technical, financial, operational, and strategic topics.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Develop and maintain integrated roadmaps and product backlogs across data platforms, engineering, analytics, data science, AI and machine learning, Data & AI governance, and intelligent automation, translating strategy into prioritized initiatives and measurable outcomes.
• Serve as Technical Program Manager for complex Data & AI engagements and lead the organization’s Agentic AI program from business case through delivery, adoption, value realization, and ongoing operations.
• Coordinate execution across technical teams, business stakeholders, vendors, managed-service providers, and enterprise functions, managing accountability, dependencies, constraints, risks, priorities, and unresolved decisions.
• Serve as Product Manager for assigned internal Data & AI capabilities, balancing user and stakeholder needs with business value, technical feasibility, cost, risk, and strategic alignment.
• Collaborate with engineers, architects, data scientists, analysts, governance specialists, and automation professionals to evaluate designs, delivery challenges, technical risks, and architecture tradeoffs.
• Develop prototypes, analyses, data products, automations, integrations, dashboards, and utilities using code, data, APIs, AI-enabled tools, and modern engineering practices.
• Contribute hands‑on to solution design, technical reviews, testing, data validation, implementation, and troubleshooting, identifying root causes and recommending solutions.
• Establish reusable intake, prioritization, planning, measurement, and reporting capabilities that reduce manual work and improve organizational effectiveness.
• Develop business cases and value hypotheses based on baselines, assumptions, expected benefits, costs, and measurable value across growth, cost optimization, productivity, risk and resilience, and foundational enablement.
• Define metrics and evaluate adoption, operational performance, and realized value to determine when capabilities require improvement, reprioritization, expansion, or retirement.
• Serve as a trusted extension of the Director, independently advancing delegated priorities with discretion, judgment, and reliable follow‑through.
• Coordinate organizational planning cycles, leadership commitments, decision records, and strategic actions across capability areas.
• Support budgets, forecasts, investments, resources, vendor and contract analysis, and financial performance management.
• Recommend technology investments, sourcing strategies, and workforce needs while proactively resolving unowned organizational issues.
• Build trusted relationships across technology and the business through responsiveness, credibility, transparency, and consistent execution.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED

EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Computational Science, or another highly quantitative discipline.
• Master’s or a PhD in a relevant quantitative or computational discipline preferred.

EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

• 7 or more years’ experience with a Masters, or 5 or more years’ experience with a Master’s or PhD, of progressively advanced experience across software engineering, data engineering, analytics engineering, data platforms, data governance, data quality, and/or related disciplines.
• A passion and enthusiasm for data, AI, analytics, governance, data management, and automation.
• High level of initiative, positive energy, curiosity, adaptability, and willingness to take ownership beyond a narrowly defined functional scope.
• Demonstrated ability to define technical strategy and lead its execution while remaining personally engaged in hands‑on technical work.
• Strong technical fluency across data architecture, data engineering, analytics engineering, data science, AI and machine learning, data governance, APIs, and workflow automation, with working proficiency in technical languages, preferably Python and SQL.
• Experience managing product or capability roadmaps, backlogs, milestones, dependencies, risks, and measurable outcomes.
• Experience developing business cases, defining KPIs, quantifying expected benefits, tracking realized value, and communicating financial and operational impacts.
• Ability to translate business needs, technical designs, financial considerations, governance requirements, and executive priorities into clear direction for technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and visual communication skills, with the credibility to influence technical professionals, business stakeholders, and senior leaders across organizational boundaries without formal authority.
• Strong analytical judgment, attention to detail, organization, accountability, and follow‑through, with the ability to structure ambiguous problems and adapt rapidly to changing priorities.
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive organizational, financial, personnel, vendor, or strategic information.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP

Reports to: Director of Engineering – AI, Data, Analytics, and Governance

Title(s) of direct reports (if applicable): N/A

WHERE YOU WILL WORK

To optimize collaboration, relationship building, and key stakeholder engagement, this role aligns to a 4:1 hybrid model which is in office in Houston, TX, Monday-Thursday with the option for remote work on Fridays.

YOUR COMPANY BENEFITS

At Crown Castle, we do our best to ensure you have access to the resources you need to live a healthy and happy life no matter where you are in life. Our benefits are built around your individual needs, covering physical, mental, and financial health and designed to enhance your quality of life.

We are proud to offer a full suite of health and wealth benefits for you and your loved ones. Below are a few of the key highlights of the many benefits we provide.

• Comprehensive healthcare plans with highly company subsidized premiums and up to $2,000 annual company contribution to your Health Savings Account (HSA base plan for employee and dependents).
• Market-leading 401(k) plan, which includes up to 10% company contributions through our 5% match and 5% profit sharing program (based on employee contributions).
• New-child leave up to 8 weeks of 100% paid leave upon birth or legal adoption of a new child. Birth mothers are eligible for up to 8 weeks of additional 100% paid medical leave.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per year of eligible tuition and fees.
• Crown Castle scholarship program awarding up to $10,000 per recipient each year for eligible dependent children of employees and interns.
• Matching charitable contributions to qualified charitable organizations of up to $1,000 per year per teammate.
• Generous paid time‑off for eligible full‑time employees (minimum 18 days per year based on years of service).
• All offices provide free beverages and snacks.

COMPENSATION

The salary range offered for this position is $148,720 - $195,195 annually. A candidate's offer is determined by various factors including but not limited to, depth of experience, role-related knowledge and skills, relevant education or training, internal alignment, and work location. Depending on the position offered, the compensation package may also include incentive compensation opportunities in the form of a discretionary annual cash bonus or commissions, and equity incentives.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Pursuant to the Los Angeles County and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to