Applied AI Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Build your big career with the firm that does Big Law, Better. McDermott Will & Schulte is a leading global law firm that brings together more than 1,700+ lawyers and 1,400 business professionals. We celebrate excellence, collaboration, and community and have been recognized as a top workplace by USA Today, Fortune, The American Lawyer, Vault and others. We are also certified by Great Place to Work.

At McDermott, we don’t just invest in your future, we accelerate your career – wherever it may lead. That includes supporting you both in and outside of the office.

With us, you’ll find:

• A firm where everyone belongs: Our award-winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity — we encourage you to be yourself!

• Enthusiasm for all perspectives: We’re smarter and stronger when everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. We welcome unique viewpoints and ideas, and we make opportunities for you and your career to thrive.

• Support to feel your best and do your best: Wellness is integral to building a successful career and a rich life. That’s why our benefits program supports your physical, emotional, mental, and financial health, with an emphasis on work-life balance.

• Real rewards for real work: We offer generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence.

Job Description:

Position Summary:

Are you a Product Manager, Pre-Sales Engineer, or Business Analyst who lives and breathes AI? This role was built for you.

McDermott, Will & Schulte LLP is among the most ambitious firms in the world when it comes to AI — and we're just getting started. We're building a purpose-built AI capability inside the firm: intelligent applications, agentic workflows, and deep integrations that are transforming how our attorneys and staff professionals work and how we serve clients. The Applied AI Solutions Analyst sits at the center of that effort. You won't hand requirements to a dev team. You'll discover opportunities, design solutions, and build them yourself using the most advanced AI tools available.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Partner with attorneys and operational leaders to surface workflow pain points and translate them into AI use cases
• Design and build AI solutions using state-of-the-art AI foundation platforms — from conversational tools to full document automation
• Orchestrate agentic workflows that autonomously handle multi-step legal and business processes via integration frameworks and APIs
• Use prompting to engineer bespoke applications and solutions with high-quality output
• Integrate AI solutions with M365 applications, Enterprise Data Warehouse, the firm's Document Management System and other enterprise applications
• Run iterative feedback loops with stakeholders; validate solution designs and maintain clear documentation throughout delivery
• Monitor the LLM landscape and bring actionable AI innovations back to the team

TECHNOLOGIES

Leading AI Foundation Models
Agentic Frameworks
Vector Store(s)
Enterprise Data Platform
Agentic Workflows
MCP
REST APIs
Azure
iManage
SharePoint
Microsoft 365
Git

WHAT YOU BRING

• 3+ years delivering software-based solutions in a Business Analyst, solutions, or technical product role
• Demonstrated AI building experience — delivered AI tools, workflows, or agents professionally or personally
• Deep prompt engineering skill; proficiency with at least one leading AI foundation platform
• API integration experience — REST, JSON, and cloud environments (Azure preferred)
• Excellent communication skills — can explain model behavior to a managing partner
• BS in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or equivalent experience

PREFERRED

• Experience with agentic frameworks, tool-use chains, or autonomous agent orchestration
• Hands-on experience with AI-assisted development tools and agentic workflow frameworks
• Exposure to legal industry workflows — matter management, KM, or client delivery
• Familiarity with responsible AI and data governance in regulated environments

WHY MWS

• Executive-sponsored AI program — one of the most ambitious in global law
• Build with frontier AI tools on problems that genuinely matter
• Remote-first, collaborative team that ships fast and celebrates impact
• Career-defining work at the frontier of legal AI transformation

Successful candidates will be provided with outstanding career opportunities and will receive a competitive total rewards package with the opportunity to earn performance-based bonuses.

Target Hiring Range $93,000 - $169,000

Please note that quoted salary ranges are not guarantees of what final salary offers may be. Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. Base pay is only one part of the Total Rewards that MWS provides to compensate and recognize our staff professionals for their work. Full time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

#LI-JL1 #LI-Hybrid

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk and hear

• Employee must occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds

Work Environment:

Typical indoor office environment

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people within this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this job.