TTI Assistant Research Scientist

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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 75 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 that supports a hybrid work environment. This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, including remote and in-office work, subject to agency policy, operational needs, and supervisory approval. Details can be discussed during the interview process.
• The preferred primary duty station for this position is TTI San Antonio - Castle Hills, located at 1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 605, San Antonio, TX 78213. Employees hired for this position are required to report in person to their assigned duty station for the first 30 days of employment. While TTI San Antonio - Castle Hills is the preferred duty station, candidates may be considered for assignment to another TTI urban office based on business needs and organizational fit. After the initial onboarding period, a hybrid work arrangement may be approved at the agency's discretion, with the assigned duty station remaining the employee's primary work location.

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

• A Presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025. Please be advised that Texas A&M University will NOT pay this fee. Therefore, if you need immigration sponsorship for your employment, we recommend that you consult with your private immigration counsel at your own expense to ascertain whether your current immigration status would make a potential offer of employment from Texas A&M University subject to this fee. 

• In addition, on January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Abbot issued a moratorium on the filing of any new H-1B unless approved by the Texas Workforce Commission. Accordingly, if you will now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status this moratorium may affect our ability to employ you should you be selected as the final candidate. 

Job Summary

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Energy and Right of Way Program is seeking a candidate with interdisciplinary transportation expertise interested in applying their knowledge to energy, right-of-way, and utility engineering research. The successful applicant will conduct applied research in the areas of transportation (on-road, non-road, construction, airport, rail, etc.) focusing on the intersection of energy, right-of-way, and utilities with the transportation infrastructure. The candidate may also support health and transportation research under the TTI Center for Efficient Mobility (CEM). The successful applicant will perform research on externally funded projects, and actively seek and obtain externally funded research projects by participating in research proposal development and outreach to sponsors. The successful applicant is expected to independently lead research projects and work within collaborative teams on research projects led by other Principal Investigators (PIs). Continued employment in this position is contingent upon the availability of funding and satisfactory performance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Applied research duties, including data collection, analysis, coordination, and supervision: Plan, schedule, coordinate, and report detailed phases of research and development projects. Evaluate and document data collection requirements andactivities. Coordinate data gathering activities and gather data needed for research tasks. Assemble, organize, document, and archive datasets. Synthesize data and extract meaningful statistics and trends. Develop and/or run applications to conduct the research. Analyze and develop potential new techniques, policies, procedures, and recommendations. Conduct the necessary literature review and background information search to support techniques and methodologies used, as well as documenting past research for reporting purposes. (40%)
• Assist with the overall direction and management, which includes the day-to-day supervision, planning, administration, evaluation, and implementation of the division/program's research functions. Manage, communicate, and coordinate withmulti-disciplinary teams comprising research staff, graduate and undergraduate students, and support staff to ensure the completion of research objectives and timely delivery of high-quality project deliverables. (15%)
• Report preparation: Compile, document, and present results in formats required for inclusion in reports, technical memoranda, and presentations. Prepare technical documentation, including literature reviews, 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. (15%)
• Experimental design: Plan, schedule, coordinate, and report detailed phases of experimental design. Evaluate and document experimental design process and effectiveness. Synthesize and extract meaningful experimental design metrics. Prepare materials for presentation of experimental design structure, process, and anticipated results. (15%)
• Research presentations: Prepare and give presentations to existing and potential sponsors, academic settings, or conference settings. Prepare, schedule, conduct, and document research meetings. (10%)
• Other duties as assigned. (5%)

Required Education and Experience

• Master’s in engineering.
• 3 years of related work experience in infrastructure project delivery or research.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to independently manage research projects from inception to completion, including responsibilities such as sponsor coordination, budget tracking, and task progress tracking.
• Knowledge of principles of quality and unbiased research.
• At least two to five (2-5) publications (published and/or accepted for publication) in major peer-reviewed journals.
• Demonstrated experience in developing research proposals and securing contracts and grants.
• Excellent verbal, technical writing, and interpersonal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Engineer in Training (EIT) certification
• Doctorate in Civil Engineering or related field.
• 2 years of related work experience in right-of-way or utility engineering topics, such as utility investigations, utility conflict management, utility coordination, utility design, utility construction, and utility asset management.
• Work experience in transportation project development and delivery, relocation and right-of-way acquisition, data modeling, database design, SQL, CAD, and GIS.
• Good understanding of software tools such as VB, VB.NET, C#, ASP, or ASP.NET.
• Good understanding of the transportation legislative framework in the United States.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform common office functions.
• Ability to frequently communicate with other individuals within the workplace.
• Ability to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery.

The physical demands 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.

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/Veterans/Disability Employer.