TTI Research Engineer

Job Title

TTI Research Engineer

Agency

Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Department

Transportation Planning

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 purpose of this position is intended for an individual that can bring a diverse background in travel demand modeling (TDM) and travel survey data collection and model estimation to conduct research and manage projects in travel demand modeling, travel surveys, transportation planning, and other related areas in a team environment.  The candidate will work with established TDM and travel survey teams and will be highly encouraged to work collaboratively with both programs.  The results of these activities will help continue to place major sponsors in the best position to evolve travel demand model needs by engaging in applied research and implementation.  This position will evolve to provide oversight of inter-agency contracts, manage professional and technical staff, work to procure research funding and fulfill sponsor obligations. The position will be able to design and analyze traditional surveys as well as explore new opportunities in transportation planning and travel behavior using passive data (i.e., cell, blue-tooth, location-based services, geo-spatial and temporal data from various vendors). Additional responsibilities include assisting in the preparation of professional and technical reports documenting research and data analysis. The incumbent is expected to PI and/or Co-PI on self-initiated research projects, develop new research initiatives, contribute to strategic research goals, provide coordination and leadership of more junior research staff on specific projects, and obtain and maintain extramurally funded research projects.  Continuation in this position is contingent upon availability of funding derived from research program or specific projects.

Essential Duties:

Conduct Research and Perform Data Analysis (50%)

Conduct research on travel demand modeling, travel surveys, transportation planning, and other related areas. Process, reduce, and analyze travel survey data or other data as needed. Coordinate data gathering activities and gather data needed for project tasks. Synthesize data and extract meaningful statistics to support travel demand modeling. Analyze existing techniques/methods and develop potentially new techniques, methods, policies, procedures, and recommendations relative to travel demand modeling and travel surveys. Ensure the completion of research objectives and timely delivery of high-quality project deliverables. (50%)

Staff Management and Supervision Responsibilities (30%)

Manage, communicate, and coordinate with multi-disciplinary teams comprising research staff, graduate and undergraduate students, and support staff. Must demonstrate ability to manage multiple projects as principal investigator through managing time, budgets, prioritize work efforts, and progress of work to meet sponsor expectations. This will include attending meetings with sponsors, other researchers, or other groups to discuss projects.  This position will oversee day-to-day supervision, planning, administration, evaluation, and implementation of the program’s research functions.  The candidate will eventually 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.

Business development (15%)

Maintain strong relationships with existing sponsors.  Identify and pursue independent research funding opportunities. Build potential teaming relationships with other partners by proactively developing and presenting innovative project ideas and concepts and research needs statements to potential sponsors. Identify opportunities to take the program’s skillset to ventures outside of traditional sponsors to develop new business opportunities for TTI. Lead and assist in effective proposal preparation and preparing budgets to potential sponsors.

Prepare Technical Reports and Correspondence (4%)

Write technical reports for research projects, including data collection, analysis, and summaries. Provide survey results in formats for inclusion into travel demand models and tools.  Respond to requests or inquiries from sponsors, other TTI programs or divisions, or others. 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 Compile 10. Serves as PI and/or Co-PI.

Other duties as assigned. (1%)

Required Education and Experience:

• Masters degree in related field transportation/civil engineering.

• 8 years related work experience. The candidate must have progressively demonstrated experience in travel demand modeling, travel survey design, collection, and analysis.  Experience in the use of passive data to support travel demand modeling and/or specific stages is a must.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

• PE license

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

Required: Special expertise in one or more areas of the following items:

• Experience in the development, calibration, and application of trip-based travel demand models (3 and 4-step).

• Experience and knowledge in the development of External Travel Model.

• Experience in the development, calibration, and application of activity-based models.

• Experience with TransCAD, TransModeler, Cube/Voyager, DynusT, VISUM.

• Experience with programming languages: GISDK, Cube/Voyager, C++, Python, R, SQL, and Java.

• Ability to learn HTML.

• Experience with other engineering applications: ArcGIS, AutoCAD, MicroStation, MATLAB.

• Experience with Big-Data research.

• Experience with the development, collection, and processing of household, workplace, commercial vehicle, and special generator surveys.

• NHTS Add-On, Data Analysis, Model Calibration/Validation.

• Onboard Transit Survey, Data Analysis, Transit Model Calibration/Validation.

• University Student Travel Survey.

• External Travel Survey and Data Analysis.

• Cell Phone GPS Data Based Travel Time Survey and Data Analysis.

• ATRI Truck GPS Data Analysis for Regional Freight Planning.

• Experience and knowledge of Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) Model Development Using DynusT.

• Experience and knowledge of Land Use Model Development (SAM-IM & URBANSIM).

• Experience with traffic count data collection programs and standards.

• 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 committed to diversity.