AI Researcher - Construction

About the Role

The AI Researcher role will explore emerging digital and field‑based AI technologies, develop prototypes, and generate insights that support strategic initiatives, improve operational efficiency, and drive digital transformation across the enterprise. The position is forward‑thinking, technically skilled, and eligible for remote work pending approval. Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota. The role involves investigating AI methods such as machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and generative AI for use cases in construction, safety, scheduling, design, and workforce optimization. The researcher will monitor academic and industry research, startups, and vendor solutions to identify emerging trends and assess relevance to the organization and its partners. Collaboration with operations, innovation, data teams, data scientists, engineers, and developers is required to translate business challenges into research experiments and to build proof‑of‑concepts that demonstrate real‑world AI capabilities. Building relationships across diverse backgrounds and organizational levels is essential, along with any other duties as assigned. • Evaluate AI techniques (ML, NLP, computer vision, GenAI) for construction, safety, scheduling, design, and workforce optimization. • Track academic, industry, startup, and vendor research to surface emerging AI trends. • Translate business challenges from operations and innovation teams into research questions and experiments. • Develop proof‑of‑concepts and tools with data scientists, engineers, and developers to showcase AI capabilities. • Build collaborative relationships across diverse backgrounds and organizational levels.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸ai evaluation
• ▸trend tracking
• ▸experiment design
• ▸poc development
• ▸prototype development
• ▸team collaboration

What You Bring

Candidates must hold a Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, AI, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field and possess at least three years of AI/ML research or applied data‑science experience. Preferred backgrounds include construction, architecture, engineering, or real‑estate development, as well as participation in research programs, fellowships, or innovation labs. Required technical skills include strong proficiency in Python, ML frameworks, and data tools, along with experience in large language models, multimodal or generative AI platforms, and familiarity with agent frameworks and knowledge graphs. The role also requires active listening, effective communication, a valid driver’s license (if applicable), and the ability to travel up to 25 % of the time. • Hold a Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, AI, Data Science, Engineering, or related discipline. • Possess 3+ years of AI/ML research or applied data‑science experience. • Demonstrate strong Python programming skills and proficiency with ML frameworks and data tools. • Experience with large language models, multimodal or generative AI platforms such as Azure AI Foundry or Google Vertex. • Familiarity with agent frameworks, agentic workflows, and knowledge graphs (preferred). • Ability to travel up to 25 % of the time and hold a valid driver’s license if required.

Requirements

• ▸phd
• ▸python
• ▸ai/ml
• ▸llm
• ▸agent frameworks
• ▸communication

Benefits

Compensation consists of a base pay range from $133,200 to $199,800, with higher ranges for locations such as Denver, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, and Washington, D.C. Base salary is positioned within the range based on knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity considerations. Benefits for non‑craft, non‑union employees working 25 + hours per week include medical, vision, and dental coverage with no additional cost, a 401(k) plan with a generous Mortenson match, paid time off, holidays, employer‑paid life, AD&D, and disability insurance, a no‑cost mental‑health tool and concierge, tuition reimbursement, adoption assistance, and a gym‑membership discount program. • Base salary range $133,200–$199,800, with higher ranges for Denver, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, and Washington, D.C. • Medical, vision, and dental coverage at no cost, 401(k) with Mortenson match, paid time off and holidays. • Employer‑paid life, AD&D, and disability insurance, no‑cost mental‑health resources, tuition reimbursement, adoption assistance, and gym‑membership discount.

Work Environment

Remote