Consultant - AI Solutions & Architecture - 1898 & Co. (Kansas City)

DescriptionAt 1898 & Co., we help our clients unlock the power of data and analytics to shape smarter business strategies and drive innovation. Our Business Intelligence & Analytics team works with electric utilities, energy companies, and other critical infrastructure clients to design, implement, and deliver advanced analytics and AI-enabled solutions. As part of Burns & McDonnell, we bring decades of industry expertise and a spirit of innovation to solve some of the most pressing infrastructure challenges of our time.We are seeking a consultant focused on AI solutions and architecture who is passionate about applying analytics and artificial intelligence to transform utility operations and decision-making. In this role you’ll partner with clients to identify high-impact opportunities, shape AI strategies, and collaborate with data scientists, engineers, and business experts to design solutions that transform operations, improve customer experiences, and advance sustainability. You’ll bring curiosity, adaptability, and a commitment to continual learning to stay ahead of emerging technologies and their applications in the industry.What You’ll Do· Conduct research into the application of analytics to new domains, with a focus on electric utilities and critical infrastructure.· Apply a pragmatic problem-solving approach to create value while ensuring robustness and data integrity.· Document and summarize findings, develop visualizations, and communicate insights effectively to stakeholders.· Envision and design AI-enabled solutions that address challenges such as grid modernization, asset management, outage prediction, renewable integration, and customer engagement.· Work closely with clients to translate business needs into AI/analytics opportunities and define solution roadmaps.· Collaborate with technical experts to ensure solutions are practical, scalable, and aligned with client goals.· Stay informed on emerging AI technologies and evaluate their impact on utility operations.· Lead workshops and presentations to communicate solution concepts and inspire stakeholder engagement.· Provide leadership, mentoring, and guidance to project teams and junior staff.· Champion a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and exploration of AI’s potential.· Thrive in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.· Ensure QA/QC process adherence and compliance with company policies, quality standards, and safety requirements.· Perform other duties as assigned.Preferred Skills & Experiences· 5+ years of experience in analytics, AI/ML, or utility operations with a strong focus on solution development and strategy. Proficiency with Python and support data and analytics libraries. · Strong familiarity with the electric utility industry, its data domains (AMI, SCADA, GIS, asset/customer systems), and its operational challenges.· Working knowledge of AI and analytics methods (machine learning, predictive modeling, data visualization) with the ability to collaborate effectively with technical experts.· Passion for continual learning and applying new AI/analytics advancements to solve real-world industry challenges.· Strong communication skills with the ability to engage both executives and technical teams.· Consulting or client-facing experience strongly preferred.QualificationsBachelor’s degree in data Analytics, Computer Science, Information Systems, Statistics, Engineering, Math, or related field from an accredited program and 7 years of related experienceMaster’s degree or PhD preferred5+ years of experience in analytics, AI/ML, or utility operations with a strong focus on solution development and strategy preferredProficiency with Python and support data and analytics libraries preferred Strong familiarity with the electric utility industry, its data domains (AMI, SCADA, GIS, asset/customer systems), and its operational challenges preferredWorking knowledge of AI and analytics methods (machine learning, predictive modeling, data visualization) with the ability to collaborate effectively with technical experts preferredPassion for continual learning and applying new AI/analytics advancements to solve real-world industry challenges preferredStrong communication skills with the ability to engage both executives and technical teams preferred.Consulting or client-facing experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated application of analytics processing engines such as Spark, Hadoop, Flink, StormExperience with commercial analytics tooling such as SAS, SPSS.Experience with Business Intelligence tools such as ThoughtSpot, Tableau or Power BI.Familiarity with the analytics stack from at least one cloud provider.Demonstrated application of data wrangling and supporting tools.Demonstrated application of statistical analytics and machine learning. Experience with a variety of machine learning algorithms and an understanding of the application of other algorithms.Experience with the domain of problems of an Electric Utility strongly preferred.Experience in utility analytics in a technology vendor or utility environment.Proficient in SQL, Python, Python data science libraries. Experience with R or other languages.An understanding of geospatial analytics is preferred.Ability to work with team members and clients to assess needs, provide assistance, and resolve problems.Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.Desire to understand why things work the way they do.Ability to present and explain technical concepts to business audiences.All other duties as assigned.EEO/Disabled/Veterans Job Field: ConsultingJob Type: ExperiencedSchedule: Full-timeTravel: Yes, 15 % of the Time