AI Researcher - Construction

Mortenson•Minneapolis, MN

100d•$133,200 - $199,800•Remote

About The Position

This role will explore emerging digital and field-based AI technologies, develop prototypes, and generate insights that inform strategic initiatives, improve operational efficiency, and support digital transformation across the enterprise. The AI Researcher will be forward-thinking and technically skilled to drive applied research across operations. This position is eligible for remote work, pending approval.

Requirements

Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, AI, Data Science, Engineering or related field.
3+ years in experience in AI/ML research or applied data science
(If applicable) Current driver’s license
Experience with LLMs, multimodal models, or generative AI (eg. Azure AI Foundry, Google Vertex)
Strong proficiency in Python, ML frameworks, and data tools
Active listening skills and effective communication including an openness to diverse input and feedback
Ability to travel up to 25%

Nice To Haves

Prior work in construction, architecture, engineering, or real estate development or participation in research programs, fellowships, or innovation labs, preferred
Familiarity with agent frameworks, agentic workflows, and knowledge graph, preferred
Familiarity with enterprise construction platforms or solutions (eg Procore, Autodesk, Oracle)
Understanding of generative design, data collection, field monitoring, and robotics systems for the built environment, (Physical AI, Cyber-Physical Systems, Human-AI collaboration), preferred

Responsibilities

Investigate and evaluate AI methods (eg. ML, NPL, computer vision, GenAI) for use cases in construction, safety, scheduling, design and workforce optimization.
Monitor academic and industry research, startups, and vendor solutions to identify and report on emerging trends and assess their relevance to the organization, our partners, and our customers.
Partner with operations, innovation, and data teams to understand business challenges and translate into AI research questions and experiments.
Collaborate with data scientists, engineers, developers and team members to build proof-of-concepts and tools that demonstrate AI capabilities for real-world scenarios.
Effectively work and build relationships with those of diverse backgrounds and organizational levels
All other duties as assigned

Benefits

Medical and prescription drug plans that includes no additional cost vision coverage
Dental plan
401k retirement plan with a generous Mortenson match
Paid time off, holidays, and other paid leaves
Employer paid Life, AD&D, and disability insurance
No-Cost mental health tool and concierge with extensive work-life resources
Tuition reimbursement
Adoption Assistance
Gym Membership Discount Program
The base pay range for this role is $133,200 - $199,800. (Actual range is higher for the following office locations: Denver, CO and Chicago, IL – 5%, Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR – 10%, Washington, D.C. – 12.5
Base pay is positioned within the range based on several factors including an individual’s knowledge, skills, and experience, with consideration given to internal equity.