Principal Research Engineer

In this role, you will act as our in-house "Assistant Professor," bridging the gap between cutting-edge academic theory and practical field execution. You will lead corporate research projects, pilot emerging technologies on active job sites, and manage our strategic partnerships with top-tier research universities. The ideal candidate holds a PhD and possesses a deep passion for translating academic innovation into scalable commercial profits, enhanced safety, and building efficiency. Key Responsibilities Corporate Research & Technology Piloting (50%) Lead internal R&D projects focused on modernizing construction operations (e.g., BIM/Digital Twins, AI-driven scheduling, robotic automation, and sustainable materials). Deploy and test prototypes on active construction sites, collecting empirical data to evaluate field performance and return on investment (ROI). Analyze operational bottlenecks within the company and design technical, data-driven solutions to optimize estimation, supply chain, and project safety. Author internal white papers, technical reports, and commercial patent applications based on proprietary research. Academic & Institutional Partnerships (30%) Serve as the primary liaison between the company and university engineering departments. Manage industry-sponsored university research grants, ensuring academic deliverables align with corporate business goals. Identify and secure government innovation funding (e.g., NSERC Alliance, NSF partnerships) to subsidize corporate research ventures. Recruit top-tier talent by managing the company's graduate research internship and co-op pipelines. Executive Advisory & Industry Thought Leadership (20%) Advise executive leadership on emerging global construction trends, tech disruptions, and strategic innovation investments. Represent the company at major international industry and academic conferences (e.g., ASCE, CRC). Conduct technical workshops to upskill internal project managers, superintendents, and estimators on newly adopted company technologies. Qualifications Minimum Requirements Ph.D. or Master’s degree with extensive research output in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technology field. A strong portfolio of published research or applied industrial patents in advanced construction methods. Excellent project management skills, with a proven ability to lead complex technical initiatives from conception to field implementation. Superb communication skills, specifically the ability to translate highly technical academic concepts into plain language for field crews and executives. Preferred Qualifications Prior academic experience (e.g., Postdoctoral Fellow, Adjunct Faculty, or Graduate Researcher). Professional Engineering Licensure (P.Eng. / P.E.) or specialized certifications (CCM, PMP, LEED AP, or BIM certifications). Hands-on experience with coding, data science tools (Python, R), automation hardware, or advanced BIM software solutions.