Research Associate

Research Associate

Company:
Virginia Tech

Job Location:
Blacksburg, 24061

Category:
Civil and Environmental Engineering

Type:
Full-Time

Job Description

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.

Required Qualifications

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

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

Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type
Restricted

Salary Information
Starting rate of $75,000; commensurate with experience

Hours per week
40

Review Date
4/8/2026

Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Natalie Jett at njett@vtti.vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

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