Director of Solutions Engineering

Join us as we Rise to the Challenge

At KCI, we're building an enduring community that provides unparalleled value to our employee-owners. We make our mark designing and delivering our world-class solutions, so we invest deeply in supporting and developing our team. We reward integrity and commitment, and when we do well, you do well. Our employees have the freedom to innovate, unlimited growth, a voice that matters, a lifestyle that works, and skin in the game. Achievements are shared and celebrated. As a team, we are motivated to better ourselves, each other, and the world around us.

THE COMPANY

KCI Technologies, Inc. is a 100% employee-owned engineering, consulting and construction firm serving clients throughout the United States. KCI is recognized as an industry leader, employing cutting-edge technologies, management practices and strategic growth initiatives. Employee ownership fosters an entrepreneurial spirit, encourages technical expertise, and shapes strategic planning.

KCI is currently ranked #56 on Engineering News-Record's list of the Top 500 design firms in the nation.

KCI BENEFITS INFORMATION

We offer a competitive compensation package, family friendly benefits, a collaborative working environment, and the training, mentoring and resources you need to advance in your career.

We understand that you have choices, and we know that together we will make a great team!

KCI is committed to building a diverse and inclusive staff, and we encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and individuals with disabilities to apply.

KCI Technologies, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

The Director of Solutions Engineering role spans software development, hardware and sensor systems, enterprise architecture, and AI agent development. This role builds and delivers the solutions that power KCI's operations and project delivery, while also setting the architectural standards and governance that ensure those solutions are coherent, secure, and scalable. As Enterprise Architect, this leader owns the technology blueprint for the Enterprise Technology department and serves as the authoritative voice on how systems are designed, integrated, and evolved across the organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities*:

Software Development & Engineering Delivery

Lead a team of software engineers and developers to deliver internal applications, integrations, and automation solutions that support KCI's project delivery and business operations.
• Establish and enforce software engineering standards, including code review processes, CI/CD practices, documentation requirements, and release management.
• Own the full software development lifecycle (SDLC) for solutions built within ET, from requirements intake through deployment and ongoing support.
• Partner with the Director of Business Solutions on solution discovery, ensuring technical feasibility and architectural fit are evaluated early in the problem-solving process.
• Maintain hands-on technical credibility; engage directly in architecture reviews, code reviews, and technical tradeoff decisions alongside the engineering team.

Enterprise Architecture

• Own and maintain KCI's enterprise technology reference architecture, including defining the principles, patterns, and standards that govern how systems are built, integrated, and retired.
• Lead technology evaluation and selection processes for platforms, tools, and frameworks; provide authoritative technical recommendations to ET leadership and the CTO.
• Ensure architectural coherence across ET's portfolio, including enterprise systems (Dynamics 365), infrastructure, cloud (Azure), security tooling, and custom-developed solutions.
• Develop and maintain architecture documentation, including system diagrams, integration maps, data flow models, and technology roadmaps.
• Serve as the technical review authority for proposed system changes, integrations, and new technology investments.

AI Agent Development & Copilot Studio Governance

• Lead the AI Agent Development Lifecycle (AADLC) within ET as the sole organizational authority for developing, deploying, and maintaining KCI's AI agents and Copilot Studio solutions.
• Establish governance frameworks for agent design, including data access controls, behavioral guardrails, testing standards, and change management protocols.
• Collaborate with the CISO on security reviews for AI-powered solutions, ensuring alignment with KCI's data classification model and enterprise security posture.
• Evaluate emerging AI development frameworks and platforms; maintain technical awareness of the LLM and agent ecosystem to inform KCI's strategic direction.
• Support the AI Adoption Lead in translating agent capabilities into business-ready deployments with appropriate documentation and training.

Hardware Engineering & Physical Systems

• Maintain working awareness of KCI's hardware engineering capabilities, including drone/UAS systems, sensors, embedded systems, and field-deployed technology, including their relevance to AEC project delivery.
• Understand FAA Part 107 regulatory requirements and the operational maturity of KCI's drone program as these capabilities evolve.
• Engage with hardware and physical systems initiatives as they mature, with the expectation that this domain will become a more direct area of ownership over time as technologies move toward production deployment.

KCI Labs Co-Stewardship

• Partner with the Director of Business Solutions to co-manage KCI Labs as the organization's primary hub for technology innovation and prototyping.
• Lead the technical evaluation of emerging technologies in Labs - advancing software, AI, and integration concepts from proof-of-concept through production readiness.
• Ensure Labs outputs are engineered to sufficient maturity before handoff to operational deployment or business unit adoption.
• Contribute to KCI Labs staffing decisions and the development of Labs team members as the program grows.

KCI Labs Co-Stewardship

• With Director of Business Solutions, lead KCI Labs to provide business context for applied R&D and innovation initiatives.
• Lead technical evaluation of emerging technologies to advance software, AI, and integration concepts from proof-of-concept through production readiness
• Ensure lab outputs are engineered to sufficient maturity before handoff to operational deployment or business unit adoption.
• Contribute to hiring and developing KCI Labs team members

People Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary team spanning software engineers and solutions architects.
• Build team capacity through intentional hiring, skill development, and knowledge-sharing practices.
• Model a culture of engineering discipline, intellectual curiosity, and continuous learning.
• Set clear expectations, provide direct feedback, and hold the team accountable to quality and delivery commitments.

Stakeholder Engagement & ET Integration

• Serve as a visible, trusted technical partner to ET peers, business unit leaders, and the CTO to translate complex engineering concepts into clear, decision-ready language for non-technical audiences.
• Participate actively in ET leadership discussions, contributing technical perspective to strategic planning, budget development, and roadmap prioritization.
• Coordinate with the Director of Enterprise Systems on platform integration, data architecture, and ERP-adjacent solution development.
• Coordinate with the CISO on security architecture, vulnerability management, and compliance requirements embedded in solution design.

Other duties as assigned.

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent experience;
• 10+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, systems architecture, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years in a technical leadership role with direct people management responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience as an Enterprise Architect or equivalent - owning architecture governance, standards, and technology strategy for an organization.
• Hands-on proficiency in software development; able to engage credibly in code reviews, architecture decisions, and technical tradeoffs alongside the engineering team.
• Experience with cloud platforms (Azure preferred), DevOps practices, CI/CD tooling, and API/integration development.
• Demonstrated experience designing, building, or governing AI-powered solutions - including LLM integration, agent frameworks, or automation pipelines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to present architectural concepts and technical recommendations to non-technical leadership with clarity and confidence.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities across a diverse technical portfolio without losing depth or discipline.

Education and/or Work Experience Preferred:

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field
• Experience in an AEC (architecture, engineering, or construction) firm or professional services environment.
• Familiarity with Microsoft 365, Azure, and the Power Platform ecosystem - particularly Copilot Studio, Power Apps, and Dataverse.
• Familiarity with hardware engineering, embedded systems, drone/UAS systems, or sensor integration - or a demonstrated interest in developing fluency in these areas.
• Background in IoT, geospatial systems, or field-deployed technology relevant to infrastructure and AEC project delivery.

Pre-employment drug screening and background check are conditions of employment. Motor vehicle checks may be required based upon position.