TTI Senior Research Scientist

Job Title

TTI Senior Research Scientist

Agency

Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Department

Advanced Transportation Operations

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Bryan, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

Who are we?

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is an agency of the State of Texas and member of The Texas A&M University System. For 70 years, TTI has addressed complex transportation challenges and opportunities with innovation, objectivity, and unmatched technical expertise. Our staff delivers excellence, value and thought leadership to ensure our research sponsors achieve their goals.

Our Mission and Vision

Our Vision - TTI leads in the creation of knowledge that transforms transportation for the benefit of society.

Our Mission - TTI delivers practical, innovative and sustainable solutions to improve the movement of people, data and goods through research, education and technology transfer.

Our Work Environment

Entrepreneurial culture

Affiliation with Texas A&M University students and faculty

Ability to work with nationally recognized experts

Ability to help train the next generation of transportation professionals

Premier office and research facilities and equipment

Accredited laboratories and safety proving ground

Outstanding research support services

Hybrid work environment/telecommuting

Flexible work hours

Family friendly

High staff retention rates

Leadership development and wellness programs

Data allowance and home office equipment reimbursements

Relocation assistance (if eligible)

Tuition reimbursement program (if eligible)

Our Employee Benefits

TTI employees can choose from several health coverage options offered by The Texas A&M University System for themselves and their families, as well as numerous other benefit programs.

https://www.tamus.edu/business/benefits-administration/

What you need to know

• TTI is a Texas based agency. This position has the flexibility of a hybrid remote option with two days in a TTI Texas based office. This can be discussed further during the interview process.

• The salary range for position is commensurate. Final salary will be determined based on the applicant's qualifications and experience.

Job Summary:

This position is for a Senior Research Scientist within the System Reliability Division of the Texas A&M Transportation Group. This position is focused solely on the research, development and implementation of methods to improve the safety and mobility of the transportation system. Within the Division’s focus on real-time operations, this is accomplished by developing, testing, implementing, and evaluating improvements via the application of advanced analytical and assessment methods and technologies. Current technology areas under research include, but are not limited to, advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence, construction area enhancements for safety and mobility, connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles, connected vehicle communications, advanced signal operations, advanced sensors, developing innovations across the system, and more.

This position requires an achieved recognition of technical/scientific leadership nationally or internationally as a result of original scientific research. The successful applicant will serve as a strategic key advisor and have be expected to perform in senior leadership roles on significant projects at both the state and national levels. Establishing and maintaining sponsor interactions will be a key component of the overall job performance.  The successful applicant will play a key role in the acquisition of research funding and identifying sources of new contract funding.

The successful applicant in this position is expected to initiate complex research projects, serve as PI, promotes TTI research, develops new sponsors, identifies future direction of research and actively develops and nurtures research opportunities. In support of existing Division leadership, applicant must help supervise, develop and mentor junior researchers as well as participating effectively and building teams within programs, divisions and across TTI.

Continuation in this position is contingent upon availability of funding derived from research program or specific projects. Continued employment in this position is contingent upon availability of funding and satisfactory performance.

Essential Duties:

Applied research and management duties - Responsible for the overall direction and management of work at a project level, which includes the day-to-day supervision, planning, administration, evaluation, and implementation of the project’s research functions. Leads multi-disciplinary teams to perform research, technology transfer, and implementation projects. These duties include project management, supervision, data collection, data analysis, and work coordination. Must have demonstrated (past experience) ability to manage multiple projects as principal investigator or senior research staff through the management of staff, time, budgets, and progress of work to meet sponsor expectations. Serve as the primary contact with sponsors for complex projects that involve multi-disciplinary teams representing different divisions and programs. Plan, schedule, coordinate, and report detailed phases of research and development projects. Evaluate and document data collection requirements and activities. Coordinate data gathering activities and gather data needed for project tasks. Assemble, organize, document, and archive datasets. Develop data models and metadata. Synthesize data and extract meaningful statistics and trends. Develop and/or run applications to conduct the research. Analyze and document business processes. Analyze and develop potential new techniques, policies, procedures, and recommendations. Manage, communicate, and coordinate with multi-disciplinary teams comprising research staff, graduate and undergraduate students, and support staff. Ensure the completion of research objectives and timely delivery of high-quality project deliverables. (75%)
Business development -Develop and maintain relationships with sponsors, including non-traditional ones. Proactively brainstorm, develop and present innovative project ideas and concepts and research needs statements to potential sponsors. Identify opportunities to take the Division’s skillset to ventures outside the realm of transportation where new business opportunities may exist for TTI. Build potential teaming relationships with other partners. Lead and assist in effective proposal preparation to potential sponsors. Identify and pursue independent research funding opportunities. Independently maintain or contribute to extramurally funded research. (10%)
Report preparation and presentations - Compile, document, and present results in formats required for inclusion in reports, technical memoranda, and presentations. Prepare technical documentation, including data collection, analysis, and summaries. Prepare project reports and other deliverables as required. Prepare materials for presentation of research results and other deliverables at technical meetings or other venues and to sponsors. Prepare and give presentations to existing and potential sponsors, academic settings, or conference setting. Schedule, prepare, conduct, and document project meetings with sponsors. (10%)
Other non-essential duties as deemed necessary (5%).

Required Education and Experience:

• Master degree in related field

• Minimum 10 years related technical work experience and leadership.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Ph.D. degree in related field

Preferred Licenses, Registrations, and Professional Certifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification

Required Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Incumbent must possess at this level:

• Ability to Learn: Demonstrated ability (via past experience) to learn new skillsets.

• New Work Development: Demonstrated ability (via past experience) to develop new work and proposals.

• Quality Research/Technical Work: Must be a recognized expert in area. Must be able to direct research of significant scope. Responsible for selecting team, liaising with sponsor, manage project deliverable schedules, conceptualize deliverables, and ultimately responsible for successful completion of projects.

• Salary Coverage: Must be able to cover own salary plus supervise team members in area of expertise/develop research opportunities for junior team members. Expected to contribute to Program and Division Management expenses. Must be able to participate in and stay wholly focused on maintain a sustainable, focused research program for the Division.

• Technical Skills: Keep technical skills relevant/updated and learn new skills. Must be able to adapt to changing technology needs/working environment.

• Marketing and Promoting Research/Technical Work: Must be able to identify sponsor opportunities, liaise with sponsors, write proposals. Must have recognition and ability to network to develop multi agency proposals. Author, co-author papers. Able to present work/projects in technical and professional settings. Participate in professional societies - member of TRB committee etc.

• Teamwork: Able to organize and maintain multi agency/external teams. Mentor team members. Successfully lead teams to ensure projects are completed on time and on budget.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.