The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) is looking for a strong leader who is committed
to overseeing and growing the Applied Analytics Group (AAG) within the Division of Data &
Analytics (DDA). The successful candidate will lead this team of talented researchers,
programmers, engineers, and data analysts to investigate challenging transportation research
questions and develop data analysis tools and techniques to answer them. Transportation is
undergoing an incredible transformation as driver-assistance, automation, and other safety-related technologies continue to expand in both capability and market availability. At VTTI, a
world-leading research institute, we are working with government agencies, transportation and
safety organizations, vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers, and others to improve
transportation safety and performance on the world’s roads.
Overseeing AAG requires leading a group of talented researchers in a supervisory capacity,
while also planning, developing, coordinating, and directing a number of critical projects. The
candidate should have experience in processing large-scale complex datasets and developing
scalable pipelines that help users extract actionable insight. The candidate should have an
aptitude for applying human behavior and human performance expertise to research
questions involving the safety, motion, control, context, and physics related to human and
automated vehicle operation. The candidate should be an experienced engineer capable of
working independently and with multidisciplinary teams to improve transportation safety
through cutting-edge research. This candidate will demonstrate significant experience and skills
in driving-related analysis, proficiency in programming and familiarity with statistics. The
individual will lead and/or provide extensive input into project/proposal development and
execution and, with support, provide input to budget preparations and project resource
allocations. The individual will lead a variety of interactions with sponsors and stakeholders.
This position is expected to focus predominantly on driver support systems including
autonomous vehicle systems, but will also support research investigating safety, vehicle motion
and the surrounding context including proximate drivers, pedestrians, infrastructure, etc.
You will need a willingness to work on solving complex problems and develop solutions that will
improve safety on our nation’s roadways as well as a willingness to learn extensively about
advanced driver assistance systems, automated vehicles, and other advanced vehicle
technologies. The position features a fast-paced flexible research environment under
leadership that strives to support meaningful work-life balance.
Although research projects may require the collection of data from small test-track experiments
using a single next-generation vehicle to large naturalistic studies involving hundreds of
vehicles on live roadways, most of the work will leverage already existing datasets (both in-house and external). Primary datasets are robust with a variety of variables available which
allow for detailed characterization of roadway, vehicle, and driver performance. Through access
to, and development of, cutting-edge software applications and tools, this team will effectively
address specific research questions that tend to focus on the characterization of existing
transportation problems (e.g. crash causation) and/or the performance/development of
advanced vehicle systems (e.g. crash avoidance technology).
Significant experience with vehicle systems, signal processing, and data analysis tools is
required. The applicant must be comfortable and proficient in an environment where each
project has some commonalities with previous but many new challenges to solve. The individual
can expect to lead the conceptualization of research and proposal development as a principal
investigator. The successful applicant will lead the Applied Analytics Group, develop and
execute a strategy that will leverage cutting-edge data visualization/analysis tools and
techniques applied to meaningful transportation challenges, and will support senior
researchers/engineers as they manage the day-to-day operations of research projects (i.e.
reviews of relevant literature, research design, research execution, data analysis,
documentation, and dissemination). The applicant must be interested in improving
transportation safety and be willing to lead and contribute to multiple projects in a fast paced,
demanding, and highly rewarding research environment. In addition to a required conviction check, the successful candidate must have a valid driver’s license.
Depending on the qualifications of the successful candidate, the research faculty rank of either senior research associate or research scientist may be offered.
Required Qualifications
• At the Senior Research Associate level, the required qualification is for a Ph D in Mechanical
Engineering or related engineering field (candidates with a Master’s degree and significant
experience may also be considered).
• At the Research Scientist level, a Ph. D. in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering field is required and significant research experience is expected.
• Experience serving as a PI and advising other PIs (required at the research scientist rank)
• Demonstrated project management experience in conducting complex research projects
• Experience writing technical reports, presentations, and publications
• Significant experience and interest in programming.
• Significant experience in transportation or related field.
• Ability to lead project teams and oversee project schedule, budgets, and deliverables.
• Solid understanding of engineering principles needed to analyze, verify, and interpret work as
well as experience applying fundamental physics and engineering concepts to quantify driving
situations.
• Experience analyzing data from a range of sensors generating streamed kinematic measures,
including accelerometers, radars, lidars, GPS, and vehicle network data.
• Skilled in large scale data processing and analyses including software, infrastructure
components, tools used, process monitoring, capacity planning, algorithm and model
evaluation methods, continuous development and operations methods, and visualizations.
• Candidate should be a skilled writer, able to clearly and concisely document findings in
technical reports, present results to clients, present results at conferences, and publish in
scientific journals.
Preferred Qualifications
MATLAB, Python, R, and SQL programming experience is preferred.
• Database programming preferred
• Preference given for significant previous experience in transportation research
• Publications in related field of intelligent transportation systems and safety analysis
• Proficiency with data visualization, and working knowledge of analysis software packages
• Experience working in a soft funded environment, developing proposals and securing funding
through transportation-related sponsors
Appointment Type
Restricted
Salary Information
$95,000 – $150,000
Review Date
6/16/2023
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Erin Carter at ecarter@vtti.vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
Advertised: May 30, 2023
Applications close:
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