AI & Automation Specialist

Job Description

This is a full-time, entry-level position within Howell’s AI Technology Group, reporting to Howells Chief Technology Officer, IT Lead, and Chief Revenue Officer. The role is based in-office in Denver, CO, with compensation ranging from $65,000 to $75,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

The AI & Automation Specialist will be Howell’s first dedicated resource for identifying, building, and implementing AI-driven workflows and automations across the business, beginning with the areas of greatest immediate need, Estimating and Project Management, before extending into Business Development and other functions. This person will partner closely with department leaders to understand existing processes, learn where automation and AI tools add the most value, and build practical solutions using approved platforms. This is a hands-on, entry-level role for a recent computer science graduate who is curious, adaptable, and eager to make a visible impact.

This is also a ground-up role. There is little existing infrastructure or precedent to build from, so the right candidate will enjoy the challenge of learning about how our business functions to create processes and systems from scratch rather than maintaining something already in place.

Over time, this role has a defined path toward growing into a leadership position within Howell’s IT function, for the right person who demonstrates strong technical judgment, initiative, and business impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the Estimating, Project Management, and Business Development teams, in that order of priority, to map current workflows and identify high-value opportunities for automation.
• Create Howell’s MCP server and incorporate data from Howell’s ERP, Project Management platform and other data sources using an SDK that is best for Howell.
• Work with various team members to learn what they do and what they need to design, build, and deploy AI-assisted workflows and automations that reduce manual effort and improve accuracy and speed.
• Evaluate and pilot AI tools and platforms in coordination with company leadership, providing recommendations based on hands-on testing.
• Once tools and platforms are selected, provide ongoing support and maintenance to keep them running reliably as business needs evolve; this becomes a growing share of the role over time.
• Apply security and data-privacy best practices when building AI solutions, ensuring sensitive company and client information is handled responsibly.
• Document new workflows and train staff on how to use and maintain them.
• Serve as an internal resource for questions about AI capabilities, best practices, and responsible use across the company.
• Track the impact of implemented automations and report results to executive leadership.
• Expand automation efforts to additional business functions, prioritizing accounting and field operations before HR and other areas, as the program matures.
• Support broader IT initiatives as needed, building toward an expanded role within the IT function over time.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field (recent graduates welcome and encouraged to apply).
• Strong foundational programming and problem-solving skills.
• Hands-on experience with modern AI platforms is required, such as large language models (e.g., Claude), agentic AI, or workflow-oriented automation tools.
• Familiarity with workflow automation concepts; experience with tools such as Power Automate, Zapier, or similar is a plus but not required.

Candidates should exhibit the following characteristics:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical colleagues.
• Self-starter mindset with strong curiosity, adaptability, and a bias toward practical, working solutions.
• A team player who demonstrates a strong service mindset, bringing a helpful, solutions-oriented attitude to every team they support. At Howell, that means collaborating at all levels and doing right by colleagues, consistent with our core values.
• Comfortable working on-site in a collaborative, in-office environment in Denver, CO. Partial remote work could be a future opportunity depending on how well the AI integration process develops.

What Success Looks Like

In the first year, success means building trust with the Estimating, Project Management, and Business Development teams, delivering workflow automations that produce measurable time savings or accuracy improvements, and establishing yourself as a credible, go-to resource for AI-related questions across the company.

Growth Opportunity

This position is designed to grow. As Howell’s automation program matures and expands across additional business functions, there is a genuine opportunity for this role to evolve into leadership of the company’s IT function. While the exact timeline depends on individual performance and business needs, candidates who excel in this role can typically expect conversations about growth within their first two years.

Interview Process

As part of the interview process, candidates should be prepared to walk through specific AI-related projects they’ve built, along with their experience with everyday IT systems. Expect behavioral questions (for example, “tell me about a time when…”) to help us understand how you approach problem-solving and collaboration.

Who is Howell Construction?

Since 1935, Howell Construction has helped shape the Colorado Front Range through disciplined, high-performance building rooted in trust, transparency, and follow-through. As a locally rooted commercial general contractor, we deliver complex and operationally sensitive projects across healthcare, civic & government, education, science & technology, and commercial markets with the steady leadership and accountability clients count on.

At Howell, we believe great performance starts with preparation, honest communication, and people who genuinely care about the outcome. Our teams lead with humility, collaborate without ego, and stay closely connected to every project from preconstruction through closeout. We combine the technical expertise and systems of a larger builder with the responsiveness, flexibility, and hands-on leadership of a relationship-driven Colorado company.

We are proud of the culture we’ve built – one grounded in servant leadership, integrity, discipline, and a commitment to doing the right thing. At Howell, we don’t just build projects. We build trust, long-term partnerships, and outcomes our clients and teams can stand behind.

We stand by our core values:

• Always Great Performance
• Servant Leadership
• Do the Right Thing
• Love What We Do

Company Benefits

At Howell, we consider our employees’ family. We genuinely care about the work we do, the people we work with, and the community in which we live and work. In addition to competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, Howell is committed to enhancing employees’ work/life balance through personal and professional development opportunities, team bonding activities, a dog-friendly office environment, company outings, celebrations, community service opportunities, and an on-site fitness center.

Next Steps

Interested and qualified candidates, please email your resume and a brief cover letter describing any relevant coursework, projects, or experience with automation or AI tools, as a Word or PDF attachment, to howelljobs@howelldenver.com. All inquiries will be held in the highest level of confidence, respecting your current situation.

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