Principal Deployment Engineer - AI Project Controls

Principal Client Engineer (US)

Join nPlan - build the cities of the future

We’re nPlan, a Series B startup backed by leading investors, including GV (formerly Google Ventures) and DeepMind’s founder, Sir Demis Hassabis. Our technology helps the world’s biggest construction projects make faster, more confident, data-driven decisions.

By combining one of the world’s largest datasets of project plans with advanced machine learning, we forecast project outcomes and reduce risk - reshaping how infrastructure gets built.

The Role

We are looking for a Principal Client Engineer with deep expertise in project controls, risk analysis and complex construction schedules of major projects to join and help shape our growing client team. You'll be one of the most senior technical voices our clients interact with, and a go-to point of judgement for the team's toughest schedule and risk problems. You will also have (personal or professional) exposure to generative AI, and have a strong interest in this space.

In this role, you'll use your expertise to help our clients maximise the value they get from nPlan, help develop the people around you, and be part of the change to revolutionise the industry. If you've ever been frustrated by the limitations of QSRA workshops, poor forecasting data, or limited time for analysis, this could be the job for you.

You'll have autonomy, ownership, and trust from day one, and you'll be working with talented people who care deeply about our mission.

While you work remotely, you will also attend monthly client visits and team meetings in our London office as well as have the opportunity to visit our international clients.

About The Role

You'll work cross-functionally across multiple areas, using your domain expertise and seniority to have a real, tangible impact:

Client engagement

• Acting as the senior trusted advisor to our most strategically important clients, including at senior stakeholder level, on how they maximise the value they get from nPlan.

• Owning and growing our most complex or highest-value client relationships, and acting as an escalation point across the wider client portfolio when things get technically or politically tricky.

• Defining how the product should be configured to bring maximum value for our most complex clients, and setting the standard other client engineers follow.

Product deployment

• Owning strategic projects end-to-end that improve how we embed our products within client organisations, including projects that span multiple clients or accounts.

• Setting the approach for how clients adopt our advanced features (e.g. LLM-based features), and mentoring clients directly on the most complex use cases.

Commercial

• Partnering with Commercial leadership to shape strategy for engagement, retention, and expansion, not just executing on it.

Product

• Acting as a senior domain-expert voice with Product Managers and AI Engineers, shaping prototyping direction rather than just contributing to it.

• Owning the domain-expert function within our LLM evaluation cycle, setting the standard for what "reliable and accurate" means and improving the process itself.

What We're Looking For

We're excited to hear from people who bring expertise, authority, and curiosity.

To succeed in this role, you'll bring:

• 7+ years of experience in a planning, risk, PMO, or project management role on major construction projects, including a track record of owning the trickiest schedule risk problems end-to-end.

• Deep understanding of large construction schedules (P6), how they are built, and how to analyse them.

• Demonstrable experience leading and delivering strategic projects that significantly improve an important outcome for an organisation, with the credibility to influence senior client stakeholders directly.

• Experience mentoring or upskilling other planning, risk or project controls professionals.

• Passion for implementing technology to improve the construction industry.

• Attention to detail - please mention the word 'crane' in your application form.

• Excellent relationship-building skills: You care deeply about delighting customers.

Nice to haves:

• Experience working in a software company or on the implementation of software in the construction context

• Experience working with LLM applications

• Experience shaping how a team's methodology or ways of working evolve, or feeding client insight back into product direction

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Competitive salary between $110k - $140k + generous equity - when nPlan succeeds, so do you.

• Flexible hours, remote-friendly, with a Shoreditch office HQ.

• Uncapped holiday, private medical insurance, personal learning and development budget, enhanced family and sick leave, and more.

• Room to grow - we’re just over 50 people and scaling fast.

• Guided by our values: Learn from Everything. Be Radically Truthful. Aim High, Run Fast.

• Listen to interviews with our teamhere, to hear how they found the move from construction to tech

Our Culture

We’re a curious, diverse, and mission-driven team united by a belief that better data can change how the world builds.

We value openness, honesty, and diversity of thought - and believe the best ideas win, no matter where they come from.

Expect openness, collaboration, and balance - plus plenty of socials!

Application Process

• Once you’ve applied, you will hear from us within a week.

• Interview stages typically include:

  • A 30-minute intro chat

  • A role-specific interview or assignment

  • An interview focusing on our culture and values

  • A final stage to test collaboration with our team (on-site or remote)

• We aim to complete the process within 3-4 weeks, but can move faster if necessary (just let us know).

We want every candidate to have a positive experience - and we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.

Accessibility & Inclusion

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

If you need adjustments during the hiring process, please let us know.