AI Innovation Architect

McFarland Johnson • Full-time • Raleigh, NC, US • 3d ago

At McFarland Johnson (MJ), you'll own your future. We're a 100% employee-owned firm with over 80 years of experience delivering innovative engineering, planning, environmental, technology, and construction solutions that make a lasting impact on the clients and communities we serve.

Certified as a Great Place to Work, our employee-owners describe MJ's culture as collaborative, people-focused, and supportive. Join us, and help shape the future of infrastructure, together.

The AI Innovation Architect is responsible for identifying bold opportunities where artificial intelligence can fundamentally change how MJ operates and delivers services. This role explores emerging technologies, challenges traditional assumptions, and brings forward big ideas that could transform business systems, workflows, and tools. Unlike roles focused on day-to-day technology support or training, this position operates as an internal AI exploration and innovation function, identifying possibilities that may dramatically improve efficiency, unlock new capabilities, or reinvent how the firm works.

The AI Innovation Architect works directly with the President and executive leadership to present ideas, prototype solutions, and evaluate how emerging AI technologies could reshape MJ's future. This role rewards curiosity, experimentation, and the ability to think differently.

Why Join Us?

Career Growth: Accelerate your professional career while working directly with executive leadership on emerging technologies that will shape the future of the firm.
Collaborative Culture: Work alongside multidisciplinary teams that thrive on creativity, support, and teamwork. Collaborative is the most frequent word used to describe MJ's culture in our annual employee survey.
Employee Ownership: As a 100% ESOP, your contributions directly shape our shared success ' you truly own your future.
Innovation & Impact: Explore emerging technologies and help MJ discover new ways to operate, compete, and deliver value.
Professional Development: MJ encourages curiosity and experimentation. You'll have the opportunity to explore new technologies and develop ideas that can shape the future of the company.
Work-Life Balance: Enjoy flexible schedules, generous PTO, and a culture that values balance so you can thrive both professionally and personally.

Key Responsibilities

Identify bold, even disruptive opportunities for AI within MJ.
Continuously evaluate MJ's business systems, workflows, and tools to identify opportunities where AI could dramatically improve efficiency, reduce complexity, or enable entirely new ways of working.
Develop and present big ideas.
Explore and propose ambitious AI-driven initiatives that could transform how MJ manages data, systems, internal processes, or project delivery.
Prototype and experiment.
Rapidly test ideas using modern AI tools, automation platforms, APIs, and low-code development environments to demonstrate what is possible.
Monitor emerging AI technologies.
Translate new technology into business opportunities.
Collaborate with leadership and technology teams.
Work closely with the President, Director of Technology, AI Implementation Lead and Executive AI Council to evaluate promising ideas and determine which concepts should move forward.
Share discoveries, demonstrations, and experimental tools that inspire MJ staff to think differently about how technology can support their work.

Qualifications

We intentionally welcome applicants who are early in their careers, self-taught, or passionate about exploring emerging technologies specifically AI.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Information Technology, or a related field preferred.
Equivalent experience, independent learning, certifications, or demonstrated projects involving AI or automation may substitute for formal education.
Recent graduates and early-career professionals are strongly encouraged to apply.

Experience

0'3 years of experience working with technology, AI tools, automation, or software experimentation.
Hands-on familiarity with generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, Gemini, or similar tools.
Experience experimenting with APIs, automation platforms, low-code tools, or lightweight software development is a plus but not required.
Curiosity about how AI can boldly change business systems and workflows.
Comfort exploring new tools and learning quickly as technology evolves.
Strong ability to communicate ideas and present concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
A mindset that enjoys testing ideas, building prototypes, and exploring possibilities.

Bonus Qualities

Experience building personal projects, automation scripts, or AI experiments or complete software.
Entrepreneurial mindset or interest in emerging technologies.
Natural curiosity about how systems work and how they could work differently.

Benefits & Perks

Competitive base salary with performance-based incentive payment plan/bonus structure.
Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision coverage.
Generous Paid Time Off, including Parental Leave.
Company funded ESOP + 401(k) employer match.
Ongoing technical training and professional development opportunities.

Join Us and Make a Difference

Join a team where your work has purpose, your ideas are valued, and your growth is personal. Apply today and become a part of a company where you can #ownyourfuture.

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