Principal Project Manager, Kentucky Transportation Infrastructure

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next!

 

At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what’s possible.

 

Job Description:

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.

What You’ll Be Doing

Engineering Innovation & AI Leadership

• 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.

Highway & Transportation Design Group Support

• 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.

Client Relationships & Business Development

• 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.

What Required Skills You’ll Bring

• 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.

What Desired Skills You’ll Bring

• 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.

Security Clearance Requirement:

None

This position is part of our Critical Infrastructure team.

For more than 80 years, our experts have designed and delivered the critical infrastructure that connects and protects communities around the world. We work in collaborative teams, both within the company and with our partners and customers, to plan, design, build, and modernize infrastructure. We take special pride in projects and solutions that improve communities as well as people’s quality of life by promoting economic growth, enhancing mobility, and increasing sustainability and resiliency. Powered by our people, we provide the imagination necessary to support our customers’ visions—and to help them see what's next!

Salary Range: $148,300.00 - $266,900.00

We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!

This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will continue to be posted for an average of 30 days until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.

Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

Parsons is aware of fraudulent recruitment practices. To learn more about recruitment fraud and how to report it, please refer to https://www.parsons.com/fraudulent-recruitment/.