Research Engineer

Job Description Summary

Pursue, plan, organize, and conduct research, and development and testing activities with emphasis on advanced mobility and energy topics. Project applications may include vehicle propulsion systems, vehicle controls, connected and autonomous vehicles, alternative energy, etc. Activities may include experimental, analysis, or simulation tasks.
Pending a candidates experience level, participate in competitive technical research grant proposals, technical publications and presentations, guide and train undergrad and graduate students.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (other duties may be assigned)

1. Work collaboratively with other team members in technical project execution from concept to wrap-up. Depending on prior experience and skills, and future interests, examples may include:
   a. Industrial & Governmental proposal development
   b. Development of experimental and / or simulation plans
   c. Setup of experimental testbeds and / or simulation models
   d. Collecting of experimental data
   e. Running simulations
   f. Analyzing test data and simulation results
   g. Developing & implementing control software and hardware
   h. Prepare and present results to sponsors
   i. Author and co-author technical articles for peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed publication
   j. Supervise undergraduate and graduate students
2. Work collaboratively with other team members in education & training. Depending on prior experience and skills, and future interests, examples may include:
   a. Teaching / co-teaching professional development courses with the Michigan Tech Mobile Lab
   b. Teaching / co-teaching curriculum courses
   c. Training new staff & students
3. Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.
4. Apply safety related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures (minimum requirements)

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering or STEM field applicable to Energy and Mobility R&D and testing
  
  

Required Experience (minimum requirements)

• 1 year experience working as an engineer in a field applicable to Mobility or Energy R&D and testing OR a thesis based graduate engineering degree (MS or PhD)

Desirable Education and/or Experience

Additional education, skills, and experience beyond the minimum required is valued in the candidate. Additional education and experience can take many forms, some examples may include:

1. Education:
   a. Holding engineering degrees in more than one field
   b. Advanced engineering degrees (e.g. MS, PhD)
   c. Verifiable academic minors and certificates
   d. Professional certifications (e.g. certified auto mechanic, welder, etc.)
   e. Professional licenses (e.g. Professional Engineer, Commercial Drivers License)
   f. Verifiable professional development training in a directly applicable topic
2. Experience:
   a. Additional years of engineering experience beyond the min required
   b. Internships prior to professional experience
   c. Synergistic professional experience (e.g. mechanic, truck driver, fabricator, etc.)
   d. Professional service (conference organizer, standards committee, etc.)
   e. Developing and delivering college curriculum or professional development training
   f. Working on grant-funded projects
   g. Developing quotations & proposals
   h. Authoring or co-authoring peer reviewed publications
   i. Developing & Delivering project results to an external or internal customer
   j. Designing, conducting, analyzing experiments including operation of instrumentation
   k. Setting up and running simulations including analyzing results
   l. CAD

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities (minimum requirements)

• Maintain highly organized physical and virtual work areas
• Excellent oral & written communication
• Thorough documentation of work (results, lessons learned, etc.)
• Interpersonal skills
• Ability to stay on-task and self-prioritize tasks without daily interaction with supervisor
• Ability to deliver a presentation to a small to moderate size group (e.g. delivering project results to customer or teaching professional development)
• Apply safety related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Strong relationship building skills.
• Demonstrated basic mechanical fabrication skills; electrical and electronics skills; troubleshooting and repair of equipment.
• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons from diverse backgrounds, creating a sense of belonging, and fostering a fair, objective, welcoming place to work for persons with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and walk; sit, talk, or hear; use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and, to teach with similar movements. The employee is occasionally required to climb and balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to risk of electrical shock, chemical hazards, equipment operating at high temperatures and pressures, and moving mechanical parts.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:

* Employee Safety Overview
* Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
* Annual Data Security Training
* Annual Title IX Training

Background Check:

Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Other Conditions of Employment:

The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. Visa sponsorship is unavailable at this time. This is not an E-Verified Position.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities

1

FLSA Status

Exempt

Appointment Term

12 months

Shift

1st Shift

Pay Rate/Salary

Negotiable Based on Experience

Title of Position Supervisor

Associate Director, Advanced Power Systems Research Center

Posting Type

Dependent on Funding

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

Additional Information