AI Transformational Lead

Building a career at Granite may be the most valuable thing you could do...

Find your dream job today, and be part of something great. Our most powerful partnership is the one we have with our employees. Our people are our most valued asset and the foundation of Granite’s century-old success. We’re building more than infrastructure; we are building your future.

General Summary

This role builds and deploys smart, data- driven tools that enhances efficiency, accuracy, safety, and decision- making across civil estimating and construction operations. It uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics to improve quantity takeoffs, cost estimating, bid development, project planning, field execution, project controls, and overall operational excellence.

Essential Job Accountabilities

- Design and maintain AI-enabled applications that improve civil estimating accuracy, bid development, project planning, and construction execution.

- Develop and refine machine learning models and analytical tools to improve quantity takeoffs, production-rate forecasting, cost modeling, schedule development, risk assessment, and estimate accuracy.

- Analyze historical estimates, bid results, cost data, productivity, equipment performance, and GIS data to strengthen pricing strategies, improve competitiveness, and support informed go/no-go decisions.

- Integrate AI capabilities with estimating, scheduling, project controls, equipment, document management, GIS, CAD, and field data systems to create reliable information flow from pursuit through project completion.

- Improve estimating efficiency by deploying AI tools and automation that review plans, specifications, addenda, geotechnical reports, bid forms, contracts, and other pursuit documents; identify scope, risks, quantities, and requirements; and support compliant proposal development.

- Modernize legacy estimating and construction systems by implementing workflow automation, predictive analytics, standardized data models, and decision-support tools that improve reliability, scalability, and user adoption.

- Build and maintain data pipelines, APIs, dashboards, and services that connect estimating and project data and provide timely insights into cost, quantities, productivity, schedule, risk, and forecast performance

- Analyze large datasets from estimates, cost reports, schedules, field production, equipment telematics, survey, quality, and safety systems to generate actionable intelligence that improves estimate quality and construction performance.

- Collaborate with estimators, preconstruction leaders, project managers, engineers, field operations, project controls, equipment, safety, and IT teams to translate business needs into scalable technical solutions.

- Ensure AI solutions comply with cybersecurity standards, company policies, bid confidentiality requirements, data governance, and responsible AI practices to safeguard sensitive estimate and project information.

- Document systems, models, assumptions, data standards, and technical processes to support estimate traceability, knowledge transfer, governance, long-term sustainability, and user adoption.

- Continuously evaluate emerging AI, estimating, construction technology, and software capabilities to identify practical opportunities for innovation, standardization, and measurable operational improvement.

- May perform additional duties as needed from time to time to support evolving business and technology needs

Education

- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering, or a related quantitative or construction discipline. Equivalent practical experience may be considered for candidates with a demonstrated portfolio of estimating or construction technology solutions.

- Advanced degree, professional certification, or specialized training in civil engineering, construction management, estimating, project controls, computer science, data science, or a closely related discipline is preferred.Work Experience

- Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience delivering software, analytics, automation, estimating, or project controls solutions within heavy civil construction or a related project-based environment.

- Demonstrated success deploying production-ready applications used by estimators, preconstruction teams, project controls personnel, project managers, engineers, or field operations.

- Experience with estimating and construction data, including bid items, activities, crews, equipment, materials, subcontractors, quantities, unit costs, schedules, production rates, commitments, actual costs, and forecasts

- Background in heavy civil construction, earthwork, utilities, transportation, water infrastructure, renewable energy, site development, or similar construction operations, with familiarity with estimating practices and field constraints.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to present complex technical or analytical concepts clearly and concisely to non‑technical stakeholders
• Strong cross-functional facilitation skills, enabling alignment among estimating, preconstruction, engineering, project controls, field operations, and information technology teams
• Working knowledge of civil estimating and construction systems, including quantity takeoff, estimating, scheduling, project controls, document management, GIS, CAD, survey, and field data collection platforms
• Ability to analyze estimating and construction data using tools such as Excel, SQL, business intelligence platforms, and statistical or programming environments to develop clear, actionable insights.
• Applied artificial intelligence and machine learning at a practitioner level, including developing or using models for document review, quantity extraction, cost prediction, production forecasting, risk identification, and workflow optimization.
• Software development and systems integration at an intermediate-to-advanced level, including scripting, API use, data modeling, and connecting estimating, project controls, document, and field systems.
• Strong data-driven problem-solving ability, including defining estimating or construction problems, validating source data, selecting appropriate analytical methods, evaluating alternatives, and recommending measurable improvements
• Civil estimating and construction mindset with demonstrated ability to incorporate safety, quality, constructability, cost, schedule, risk, and productivity considerations into routine decision-making.
• Collaborative, partnership-oriented approach, with demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships across estimating, preconstruction, project management, field operations, engineering, and technical teams.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit and use hands to operate a computer keyboard. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Additional Requirements/Skills

• Valid driver’s license and ability to drive for extended periods of time
• Overnight travel required
• Comply, understand, and support company safety initiatives to ensure a safe work environment
• Ability and willingness to abide by company code of conduct daily

Our Benefits at a Glance

Building tomorrow starts with you, and Granite knows that you can excel only if we support you in and out of the workplace.  That is why we offer a broad benefits package that includes paid holidays, sick leave, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, flexible spending plans, as well as special programs for musculoskeletal health, mental wellness, and more.

Salaried employees may choose from two PPO medical plans through Anthem BlueCross, including our most popular plan, for which 100% of the premium is paid by Granite for eligible employees and dependents.  Employees can also opt into a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

As part of our investment in your future outside of the workplace, Granite provides a 100% match on the first 6% of eligible compensation that salaried employees defer into their 401(k) plans, which vests immediately.

Benefits may vary for positions located outside of the continental United States.

Base Salary Range

$105,831.00 - $166,683.00Pay may vary based upon relevant experience, skills, location, and education among other factors.  ​

About Granite Construction Incorporated

Granite Construction Incorporated is a member of the S&P 400 Index and is the parent company of Granite Construction Company, one of the nation's largest heavy civil contractors and construction materials producers. Granite is a Drug-Free Workplace and Equal Opportunity Employer.  Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws.

For additional information on applicant/employee rights please click here.

Notice to Staffing Agencies

Granite Construction, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Granite") will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Granite, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Granite mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Granite employees, or to Granite's resume database will be considered Granite property. Granite will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Granite will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. Agencies must obtain advance written approval from Granite's recruiting function to submit resumes, and then only in conjunction with a valid fully-executed contract for service and in response to a specific job opening. Granite will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have such agreement in place. Agency agreements will only be valid if in writing and signed by Granite's Human Resources Representative or his/ her designee. No other Granite employee is authorized to bind Granite to any agreement regarding the placement of candidates by Agencies.