Research Associate

Virginia Tech • Charlottesville, VA

8d • $75,000

About The Position

VTTI’s Center for Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure and the Virginia Transportation Research Council seeks a qualified and ambitious research engineer to contribute to ongoing transportation safety research and help coordinate efforts between the two organizations in the Charlottesville area. As a seasoned engineer in all conventional aspects of the subject matter this position will be expected to independently plan and execute work that requires sound judgement in evaluating, selecting, and adapting standard techniques, procedures and criteria. Duties and responsibilities: Plans research efforts, schedules equipment and resources, conducts experiments, writes proposals, reports, and papers, or coordinates detailed tasks as part of a major project in the field of transportation materials, pavements and asset management. Projects may include field evaluations of pavement sections, monitoring of construction projects, data collection and analysis. Performs work that involves conventional engineering practice but may include a variety of complex features such as conflicting design requirements, unsuitability of conventional materials, and difficult coordination requirements. Work requires a broad knowledge of precedents in the specialty area and a good knowledge of and practices of related specialties. Will be expected to publish research results and participate in proposal activity for new or follow on projects. Directions given and received: Independently performs most assignments with instructions on global objectives and general results expected. Receives technical guidance on unusual or complex problems and work is reviewed for application of sound professional judgment. Will supervise/mentor/provide training and coordinate the work of technicians, students, and others who assist in specific assignments.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline.
• Strong background in pavement evaluation, design and rehabilitation, pavements materials characterization, and pavement modeling with emphasis on data analytics.
• Demonstrated experience in pavement data analysis and accelerated pavement testing and analysis, pavement evaluation and management, and lifecycle analysis.
• Demonstrated experience in producing research results such as research publications and presentations.
• Motivated to work independently or with little supervision, in a fast-paced research environment.
• Managerial skills to coordinate/supervise technicians, researchers, undergraduate and graduate level students.

Nice To Haves

• Expertise in pavement rehabilitation techniques and material testing.
• Quality control of pavement construction

Responsibilities

• Plans research efforts, schedules equipment and resources
• Conducts experiments
• Writes proposals, reports, and papers
• Coordinates detailed tasks as part of a major project in the field of transportation materials, pavements and asset management
• Projects may include field evaluations of pavement sections, monitoring of construction projects, data collection and analysis
• Performs work that involves conventional engineering practice but may include a variety of complex features such as conflicting design requirements, unsuitability of conventional materials, and difficult coordination requirements
• Publish research results and participate in proposal activity for new or follow on projects
• Supervise/mentor/provide training and coordinate the work of technicians, students, and others who assist in specific assignments

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees