Research Assistant

Job description

Agency

Department

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 

• 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. The primary duty station for this position is the TTI Headquarters, located at 1111 Rellis Pkwy, Bryan, TX 77807. Due to the nature of this role, this position is required to work on-site and is not eligible for a hybrid or remote work arrangement. Additional details may be discussed during the interview process.

• 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 Research Assistant is responsible for performing skilled, administrative, and managerial support work for various research projects. Specifically, the position will involve assisting in the design, planning, scheduling, and executing of laboratory and field research work including experimentations, equipment installation/removal, site monitoring, data collection, and non-destructive pavement testing. The position will also involve managing the student laboratories as well as providing technical support, maintenance, and management of research equipment. The position will also involve extensive routine fieldwork travels including working after normal business hours, weekends, and/or at night, as needed. Continued employment in this position is contingent upon availability of funding and satisfactory performance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Fieldwork travels and data collection (33%)
• Equipment installation in the field, sensor setup, site checks, and removal (30%)
• Assist in the design, planning, scheduling, and coordinating laboratory and field experimental works in support of various research projects (7%)
• Program coding, machine learning algorithms, macros, & software development for data processing, analysis, and quality control (QC) checks (5%)
• Data analysis, synthesis, quality checks, technical auditing/review, report writing, & documentation (10%)
• Maintenance and management of research equipment and student labs (5%)
• Computational modeling, finite element analysis, & numerical simulations (5%)
• Laboratory testing and scientific measurements, as needed (3%)
• Assist student workers and other junior technical staff, as needed (1%)
• Assist and perform other duties, as assigned by senior researchers (1%)

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field
• No work experience required

Preferred Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering related field
• Six months to one year of related experience
• Knowledge of piezoelectric and Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) sensors
• Electrical engineering and electronics knowledge
• Program coding and software development skills including Machine Learning and AI algorithms

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability and flexibility to routinely travel for fieldwork including work beyond normal business hours, weekends, and/or at night, as needed
• Familiarity with Python, AbaQus, MATLAB, and VBA software platforms
• Conversant with the basic Microsoft Office software package
• Ability to perform traffic data analysis and quality checks
• Ability to perform finite element modeling
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Other Requirements

• Ability/flexibility to routinely travel for fieldwork.
• Flexibility to work beyond normal business hours, weekends, and/or at night, as needed
• May be required to work in hot, cold, and extreme weather conditions.
• Ability to perform common office functions and fluently communicate with others.
• Valid USA Class C driver’s license or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment

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Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift moderately heavy objects, as needed.
• Ability to exert heavy force, as needed.

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.