Applied AI Lead

Job description

We're looking for an Applied AI Lead to join Sia's ETI practice and help clients move AI, automation, and agent-based workflows from idea to working production systems. This is a hands-on technical role. You will personally build, prototype, and ship AI-enabled solutions inside client environments, often bridging modern AI tooling with the operational technology (OT) and legacy IT systems common in energy, transportation, and industrial settings. You'll partner closely with our AI Transformation Managers, who own the business case and stakeholder relationships, so you can focus on what you do best: building things that actually work in production, not just in a demo. You'll join a growing ETI technical team, working day to day alongside AI Transformation Managers and Sia's broader Data & AI colleagues on live client engagements. What You'll Do Build & Ship AI Solutions Design, prototype, and build AI agents, copilots, and automation workflows directly inside client systems Write production-quality code to move solutions from pilot to scaled deployment Integrate AI tooling with clients' existing data platforms, applications, and, where relevant, operational technology (OT) environments Own technical delivery of assigned workstreams end to end, including testing, iteration, and hand-off to client teams Bridge Business and Technical Teams Partner with AI Transformation Managers to translate business requirements into technical specifications and delivery plans Work directly with client engineering, data, and IT/OT teams to understand system constraints and integration paths Translate technical trade-offs and constraints back into plain language for business stakeholders Solve for Production, Not Just Pilots Evaluate emerging AI platforms, frameworks, and tools for practical fit within client environments, where legacy, high-reliability, or safety-critical systems are often the norm Build monitoring, evaluation, and guardrails so solutions perform reliably once in production Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues that arise during pilot and scale phases Contribute to the Practice Build reusable technical accelerators, code libraries, and reference architectures for the ETI practice Mentor junior technical talent and contribute to technical hiring and practice development Share learnings across engagements to shorten build time on future projects Required 5-8+ years of experience building and shipping software or AI/ML solutions, including production deployment Hands-on experience building with Generative AI: LLMs, AI agents, copilots, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), or workflow automation platforms; you should be able to speak to code you've written, not just tools you've used Proficiency in Python or another relevant language, plus experience with common AI/ML frameworks and at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP) Experience integrating AI solutions with existing enterprise systems, data platforms, or industrial/OT environments Comfort working directly with client technical teams, including engineers, data teams, and IT/OT staff Ability to explain technical work and trade-offs to non-technical stakeholders Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent hands-on experience Preferred Experience serving clients in Energy & Utilities, Transportation & Logistics, Manufacturing, or Industrial Products, especially where OT/IT integration was part of the work Experience with AI platforms and frameworks such as OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, LangChain, LlamaIndex, AWS Bedrock, or Azure AI Experience in a consulting or client-facing technical delivery role Familiarity with DevOps/MLOps practices such as CI/CD, monitoring, or model evaluation Sia invests in total rewards that support how our people work, live, and grow. Compensation Annual Base Salary Ranges, commensurate with experience and qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by applicable law. Associate Manager Level: $129,500 - $134,600 Manager Level: $140,000 - $160,000 Annual Performance Bonus Benefits Medical, dental, and vision; company-paid life and AD&D; voluntary supplemental insurance and EAP 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting; HSA and FSA options College savings and student loan repayment programs Paid parental leave; generous PTO, nine company holidays, and one floating holiday Cell phone stipend; well-being and professional development programs Benefits are subject to applicable plan terms and eligibility requirements. Workplace Sia values in-person collaboration. When serving clients, consultants may be required to work onsite at a client location based on engagement needs. Between client engagements, consultants are expected to work from a Sia office or approved coworking location at least three days per week. Candidates should reside within a reasonable commuting distance of a Sia office or approved coworking location. Sia maintains offices and coworking arrangements across multiple U.S. markets, including New York City, Charlotte, Greater Seattle, San Francisco Greater Bay Area, Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Washington D.C. Work Authorization Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout their employment. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship now or in the future. Our Commitment Sia is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, remuneration, or discipline, are based solely on performance, competence, conduct, or business needs. Sia is a next-generation, global management consulting group. Founded in 1999, we were born digital. Today our strategy and management capabilities are augmented by data science, enhanced by creativity and driven by responsibility. We’re optimists for change and we help clients initiate, navigate and benefit from transformation. We believe optimism is a force multiplier, helping clients to mitigate downside and maximize opportunity. With expertise across a broad range of sectors and services, our 3,000 consultants serve clients worldwide from 48 locations in 19 countries. Our expertise delivers results. Our optimism transforms outcomes. Strategy & Management Consulting Sia’s Strategy & Management Consulting global footprint and expertise in more than 40 sectors and services allow us to enhance our clients' businesses worldwide. We guide their projects and initiatives in strategy, business transformation, IT & digital strategy. Sia supports Energy & Utilities, Transportation, and Industrials in driving transformation, innovation, and competitiveness. Since 2000, we have guided energy companies (oil & gas and utilities), transportation, industrial and processes manufacturing leaders through growth strategies, business transformation, digital modernization, energy transition, regulatory challenges, application of AI technologies, and Industry 4.0 advancements. Our industry subject matter experts help our clients to adapt, innovate, and lead in an evolving landscape.