AI & Automation Engineer

The AI & Automation Engineer is a hands-on technical role responsible for designing, building, deploying, and supporting AI agents, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) capabilities, and automation solutions on Company-approved AI platforms. The position transforms prioritized use cases into secure, supportable production solutions, develops reusable patterns and knowledge layers, and serves as the primary technical builder for the Company's AI and automation programs under the direction of the Senior Manager of Infrastructure and AI.

This position will require regular (every week) in-person attendance at one of our Foley Equipment offices with a partial week work-from-home opportunity. At this time, fully-remote is not available. Kansas City or Park City preferred.

What you will do:

Solution Design and Development

• Design, build, test, and deploy AI agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio and Foundry (topics, actions, tools, connected agents, knowledge sources) and publish them to approved channels such as Microsoft Teams.
• Build the Power Platform components behind AI use cases: Power Automate flows, Dataverse data models and security roles, model-driven and canvas apps, AI Builder prompts, and Adaptive Card review experiences in Teams.
• Integrate agents and flows with enterprise systems (ERP, CRM, data platform, Microsoft 365) using connectors, REST APIs, Microsoft Graph, Azure Functions, Logic Apps, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) tool connections.
• Move prototypes into production through environment strategy, solution packaging and application lifecycle management (ALM), publishing, and release validation. Assist with evaluating the cost of proposed solutions.
• Write supporting code (Python, PowerShell, C#, or JSON) where low-code tooling falls short and use AI-assisted development tools to accelerate delivery and legacy code modernization.

AI Platform and Knowledge Engineering

• Deploy and manage Azure AI Foundry projects, model deployments, and agents using Company-owned Azure Storage, Azure AI Search, and Cosmos DB so source data and vector indexes remain within the Company's tenant.
• Build retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines (ingestion, chunking, embedding, indexing, vector and hybrid search) as reusable knowledge and context layers shared by multiple agents and automations.
• Configure network isolation and identity for AI workloads, including private endpoints, private DNS, managed identities, and role-based access control (RBAC), and troubleshoot connectivity and authorization failures across platform boundaries.
• Write system prompts and agent instructions, implements tool calling and orchestration, and run evaluations (test sets, groundedness and accuracy checks, regression tests) before and after each release.

Security, Governance, and Responsible AI

• Build every solution in accordance with Company security and data protection requirements, including least-privilege identities, scoped security roles, Entra ID app registrations, Power Platform data loss prevention (DLP) policies, sensitivity label requirements, and vendor and customer confidentiality obligations.
• Verify each agent’s authentication model, including end-user, maker, and agent-author credentials, to ensure the agent returns only information the requesting user is authorized to access. Apply content-safety controls, input and output validation, and human review for consequential actions.
• Support the AI intake and review process with technical assessments, help identify and remediate unsanctioned AI usage, and support Microsoft 365 Copilot readiness, including permissions and oversharing remediation.

Operations, Support, and Enablement

• Monitor delivered solutions for accuracy, performance, usage, security, cost, and continued fit with the business need; track licensing, token, credit, and capacity consumption and recommended actions to control spend.
• Provide third-tier support and root-cause analysis for production AI and automation solutions, including occasional after-hours work for urgent issues or production automation failures.
• Maintain documentation for each solution (business owner, purpose, architecture, data sources, access model, prompts, testing notes, support owner, change history, retirement criteria) and follow Company change, release, and lifecycle practices.
• Deliver demos and technical training on approved AI tools, mentor citizen developers and IT colleagues on approved patterns and review their work for security and supportability before production.
• Communicate the status, risks, dependencies, and expected business value of assigned use cases to the Senior Manager of Infrastructure and AI and business stakeholders.

Our ideal candidate:

• Strong understanding of generative AI, AI agents, retrieval-augmented generation, automation, low-code/no-code development, and practical business process improvement.
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft’s AI tech stack including Copilot Studio, Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Search, Power Platform (Power Automate, Power Apps, Dataverse, AI Builder), Fabric, and Microsoft 365 Copilot.
• Working knowledge of Azure networking, Entra ID, managed identities, and role-based access control as they apply to AI workloads.
• Proficiency in at least one language (Python, PowerShell, C#, or TypeScript), REST APIs, JSON, and Git.
• Strong knowledge of data privacy, security, access controls, responsible AI practices, and change management.
• Ability to diagnose problems across platform boundaries using logs, run histories, and vendor documentation, and to explain technical designs in plain language to leaders at all levels.
• Must be well-organized, practical, collaborative, and pay close attention to detail.
• Ability to drive and valid driver’s license required.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, data analytics, or a related field is required.
• Three years of proven experience in application development, automation, data, or related information technology work, including one year of experience building and deploying production generative AI solutions such as agents, RAG solutions, or LLM-based automations.
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Copilot Studio, Power Platform, and Azure AI Foundry required.
• Experience with Azure AI Search, Microsoft Fabric, and ERP or CRM integration (Dynamics 365 or similar) preferred.
• Microsoft AI-102, PL-400, or AZ-204 certification preferred.

Physical Demands

(The physical demands described here must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.) Regularly required to sit, see, speak and hear -frequent and regular use of hands and fingers to handle or feel. Recurring close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Constantly use hands and fingers to perform computer keyboard work. The ability to drive, and availability and capability to travel for business purposes.

Work Environment

(The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.) Perform most of the work in a relaxed environment but may be exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Encounter different temperatures while driving and getting in and out of a vehicle. Encounter different climates when traveling.

What We Can Offer You:

• Competitive pay to recognize your valuable contribution
• 401(k) with matching
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
• Basic Life & AD&D, short-term disability, & and long-term disability
• Wellness programs to focus on building healthy habits while earning prizes and cash bonuses throughout the year
• Holiday, PTO, and Parental Leave, promoting work-life balance and personal growth
• Casual dress attire
• Family-owned company where you’re more than just another employee

Foley Industries - Foley Equipment, Foley Power Solutions, Foley Rental, and SITECH Central - proudly stands at the forefront of progress, serving customers in Kansas and Western Missouri for over nine decades. With a dedicated team of over 1,000 employees, we are committed to delivering exceptional service, top-quality parts and rentals, and unparalleled sales support across a comprehensive range of Caterpillar and allied construction equipment, power generation solutions, and cutting-edge SITECH construction technology. As we continue to empower our customers' success, we invite you to explore the endless opportunities that await you at Foley. To learn more about our company and join our team of industry leaders, please visit www.FoleyEq.com.

*At this time Foley does not participate in any Visa sponsorship programs.