Machine Learning Engineer Python Jobs in Lancaster, SC

Position Summary

Only candidates who are the local Fort Mill, SC, Charlotte, NC area will be considered.  Relocation is not applicable.

As the IT Project Manager - AI Projects and Programs at Pike Corporation, you will lead the planning, delivery, and governance of AI-enabled initiatives and strategic technology programs. You will manage cross-functional projects that leverage data, automation, machine learning, and generative AI capabilities to improve business processes and outcomes. The ideal candidate excels at coordinating technical and business teams, managing risk and change, aligning solutions to enterprise architecture and security requirements, and driving successful adoption of AI solutions from concept through implementation and scale.

Essential Functions:

AI Program Delivery and Integration:

• Lead the delivery of AI and data-driven projects, ensuring successful integration with existing enterprise systems, processes, and governance frameworks.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define business problems, gather requirements, develop use cases, and ensure AI solutions deliver measurable business value.
• Coordinate with internal technology teams, data teams, and third-party vendors to support solution design, model deployment, platform readiness, and timely delivery of AI capabilities.
• Understand and manage AI projects spend covering resource cost, token spend, license usage etc.
• Make recommendations on capitalizable tasks and efforts

Project Planning, Governance, and Value Realization:

• Develop comprehensive project and program plans, including scope, objectives, milestones, dependencies, resource needs, and implementation roadmaps for AI initiatives.
• Manage project budgets, vendor spend, and resource plans while tracking outcomes, adoption, and return on investment for AI programs.
• Define program success metrics, governance checkpoints, and delivery standards to ensure AI solutions are scalable, secure, and aligned with business and compliance requirements.

Project Delivery, Tooling, and Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Use project delivery tools such as Jira and related platforms to manage backlogs, workflows, dependencies, reporting, and team collaboration across AI and analytics initiatives.
• Support delivery governance, sprint planning, status reporting, and portfolio visibility while maintaining alignment to PMO standards, SDLC practices, and responsible AI controls.
• Partner with data science, engineering, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and business teams to coordinate delivery, remove blockers, and drive consistent execution across multiple AI workstreams.

Risk Management:

• Identify, assess, and mitigate project and program risks, including data quality, model performance, security, privacy, compliance, vendor, and adoption risks.
• Develop contingency and escalation plans to address delivery challenges, model or data issues, and operational readiness concerns throughout the AI solution lifecycle.

Quality Assurance:

• Ensure project deliverables meet defined quality standards, business requirements, and acceptance criteria, including readiness for pilot, deployment, and operational support.
• Coordinate reviews, testing, and governance checkpoints to validate solution performance, implementation readiness, and alignment with enterprise standards.

Change Management:

• Develop and implement change management strategies to support the rollout, adoption, and effective use of AI-enabled tools, workflows, and decision-support capabilities.
• Provide stakeholder training, communications, and support plans to promote responsible usage, user adoption, and sustainable business outcomes.

Stakeholder Communication

• Act as a primary point of contact for business, technical, and executive stakeholders across AI projects and programs, ensuring clear and transparent communication.
• Develop and execute communication and reporting plans that keep stakeholders informed on roadmap progress, key decisions, risks, dependencies, and realized value.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, data analytics, engineering, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of IT project and program management, financial management, resource planning, and delivery governance in complex technology environments.
• 5+ years of experience leading IT projects or programs, including delivery of data, analytics, automation, or AI-related initiatives in cross-functional environments.
• Experience with agile delivery tools and practices, with the ability to manage backlogs, dependencies, sprint reporting, and cross-team coordination.
• Ability to align AI and technology initiatives with business objectives, operational priorities, enterprise architecture, and governance standards.
• Working knowledge of data management, analytics, machine learning lifecycle concepts, or generative AI use cases and the operational considerations for deploying them responsibly.
• Relevant certifications such as PMP, Scrum, Agile, cloud, data, or AI-related certifications are advantageous.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience delivering AI, machine learning, advanced analytics, intelligent automation, or generative AI initiatives in an enterprise environment.
• Experience with Microsoft, Azure, Oracle, or other cloud platforms that support data engineering, AI services, automation, and enterprise integration.
• Master's degree in computer science, information systems, data science, business analytics, or a related field.
• Experience managing program budgets, business cases, vendor relationships, and value realization for strategic technology initiatives.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams spanning business operations, data engineering, software development, cybersecurity, and enterprise architecture.
• Experience translating business requirements into high-level solution plans, delivery roadmaps, and governance approaches for complex AI or data-driven solutions.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms.

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work).

Our Benefits:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• HSA, dependent care and medical flexible spending accounts
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401(k) with company match
• Life insurance, and short-term and long-term disability
• Paid time off, paid holidays, and family and medical leave

If this sounds like you, come join the PIKE family.

About Us

Founded in 1945, Pike is a leading provider of construction, repair and engineering services for electric and gas utilities, as well as telecommunications companies with a growing portfolio of turnkey renewable projects. We work with hundreds of utility clients across the country, and we continuously expand our offerings to supply our customers with the ideas, technology, experience, workforce and equipment to perform any job.

"Essential" is the one word that sums up who we are, the work we do and what our people mean to us. Each of our employees plays a critical role in ensuring that infrastructure systems are up and running when people and businesses need them.

Pike is a family-oriented workplace with a strong culture of safety, collaboration, innovation and exceptional customer service.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Pike Enterprises, LLC, is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin and/or status as a protected veteran or individual with a disability

About Us
Founded in 1945, Pike is a leading provider of construction, repair and engineering services for electric and gas utilities, as well as telecommunications companies with a growing portfolio of turnkey renewable projects. We work with hundreds of utility clients across the country, and we continuously expand our offerings to supply our customers with the ideas, technology, experience, manpower and equipment to perform any job.
"Essential" is the one word that sums up who we are, the work we do and what our people mean to us. Each of our employees plays a critical role in ensuring that infrastructure systems are up and running when people and businesses need them.
Pike is a family-oriented workplace with a strong culture of safety, collaboration, innovation and exceptional customer service.
Pike Engineering employees play critical roles in ensuring that essential services like electric power, gas, telephone and wireless communications are up and running when people and businesses need them. We offer engineering opportunities in transmission and distribution, substations, smart meter technologies, renewable energy, telecommunications, storm damage assessment and more.