Principal Project Manager, Kentucky Transportation Infrastructure

Parsons•Louisville, KY

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Parsons is seeking a visionary Principal Project Manager, Transportation Infrastructure to lead and shape our growing portfolio of complex transportation programs across Kentucky and beyond. In this high-impact role, you won’t just manage projects - you’ll orchestrate multidisciplinary teams, drive strategic outcomes, and redefine how we deliver value for our clients. The successful candidate will blend deep project management and highway/transit design expertise with a bold, innovative mindset, leveraging AI and advanced digital tools to transform project delivery, elevate quality, improve efficiency, and position Parsons at the forefront of next-generation transportation solutions. This role offers flexible local hybrid/remote working based in Kentucky.

Requirements

4-year degree in Civil Engineering or a related field.
15 years or more of experience in the design and/or project management of major road and highway projects.
PE license in Kentucky
Demonstrated experience serving in a project management role on major road and highway projects.
Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder transportation projects, including scope, schedule, budget, and quality.
Strong interest in, and aptitude for, integrating digital tools and emerging technologies including AI into engineering workflows.
Experience with major road and highway projects with Kentucky transportation agencies and KYTC projects.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of state and federal processes and procedures, as well as a thorough understanding of industry practices for transportation infrastructure.
Experience mentoring and developing junior engineers and serving in a senior QA/QC capacity on transportation design projects.
Familiarity with, or exposure to, AI-enabled tools and methodologies in engineering and project delivery, and an interest in helping shape AI strategy and implementation.
Proven leadership and management capability, with strong written and oral communication skills.
Ability to build and maintain strong client relationships, support business development efforts, and help position Parsons as an AI-forward engineering practice in the transportation market, particularly in Kentucky.

Responsibilities

Lead the application of AI and digital innovation within transportation and highway design, helping to establish a formal AI/innovation capability for highway and transportation infrastructure projects, with initial emphasis on Kentucky-focused work.
Work with leadership to map, pilot, and deploy Agentic AI solutions across project deliverables, with a focus on embedding AI into day-to-day engineering and project management workflows.
Use AI tools and methods to: Raise quality by detecting and addressing errors before they reach clients. Improve project efficiency and margins through automation and improved decision support. Differentiate Parsons in the market as an AI-forward engineering practice.
Guide strategic decisions on how AI is used within engineering teams, ensuring responsible, practical, and value-driven implementations.
Help position Parsons as the destination firm for clients seeking innovative, AI-enabled engineering solutions, and as a destination for top engineering talent seeking to work at the forefront of digital delivery.
Support and mentor highway and transportation design teams, with a focus on major road and highway projects, including roundabouts, interchanges, and traffic operations, particularly for KYTC and other Kentucky-based clients.
Serve as a senior resource and technical advisor on highway design projects, bringing deep understanding of standards, practices, and design processes applicable to Kentucky and similar jurisdictions.
Provide senior QA/QC review of plans and deliverables, helping to ensure quality, consistency, and compliance with applicable standards and client requirements.
Train and mentor younger engineers, helping develop their technical proficiency, professional judgment, and project delivery skills.
Work with local and regional teams to develop AI strategies and implementation frameworks that align with Parsons’ national AI initiatives, using Kentucky projects and offices as key pilots or models where appropriate.
Develop and refine Agentic AI processes to: Deliver efficiencies in design and production. Streamline staff operations and workflows. Serve as technical working models that can be scaled and adopted across Parsons’ national transportation practice.
Maintain and grow strong working relationships with key public-sector transportation clients in Kentucky, including KYTC and other regional transportation agencies.
Leverage client relationships to initiate and support discussions around AI and innovation, helping Kentucky clients map out their AI strategy and vision related to transportation infrastructure.
Collaborate with internal leadership to align AI-enabled solutions with Kentucky client needs and long-term programs.
Deliberately pair rising engineers with key client relationships to build durable, transferable client connections that strengthen the firm and support staff development.
Assist with proposal preparation, presentations, and interviews as needed, including articulating Parsons’ AI-forward capabilities and innovative approaches to project delivery for Kentucky transportation clients.