Associate Research and Development Engineer; RSCH AND DEV ENGR TX

Overview

The R&D Engineer will conduct research, development, and evaluation spanning fiber-optic sensing for traffic monitoring and incident/hazard detection, including accidents, fire, and earthquake detection; design, implementation, and validation of CV algorithms to detect unsafe driver behavior near work zones; assessment of automation technologies for pothole patching, including benchmarking, analysis of pros/cons, operational constraints, safety, costs, and readiness for adoption by DOTs;

and development of theoretical foundations and methodologies for communication techniques in sensor development and multi-point tactile force measurement (high-resolution sensing). The position is in person with regular on-site lab presence for experimental work; the primary work location is the Academic Surge Building on the UC Davis campus. Duties include planning and executing lab/field experiments; developing data-processing pipelines; designing models, simulations, and prototypes;

leading dataset collection/annotation; training and evaluating models; performing calibration and characterization; maintaining version-controlled code, well-organized datasets, and reproducible workflows; and ensuring research integrity, safety, and compliance. The Scholar will collaborate with the PI, staff, students, and external partners; mentor students as needed; prepare deliverables including technical memos, presentations, datasets, and peer-reviewed publications; contribute to proposals upon request; comply with UC Davis policies and all applicable safety, data, and ethics requirements;

and perform other related duties as assigned by the PI to advance project goals.

Position Details

The Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology (AHMCT) Research Center is the largest Center within the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). This position is 100% funded by extramural support received by the AHMCT Research Center and is subject to the continued availability of such extramural support.

3/3/2026 at 11:59pm

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline or equivalent education and experience.
• No minimum work experience required.
• Proficiency in managing the design, development, test, and evaluation of automated prototype and emerging equipment for highway maintenance and construction under general supervision.
• Proficiency in the application of professional engineering principles and tools for the purposes of mechanical design including computer analysis, design, drafting, and solid modeling software.
• High level of originality and creativity; proficiency in developing research ideas and proposals under general supervision.
• Excellent communication skills to interact with students, staff, faculty, contractors, vendors, and funding agency representatives.
• Proficiency in technical report writing and in writing reports concerning the design, fabrication, assembly, testing, use, and evaluation of experimental and emerging equipment.
• Proficiency in preparing meaningful data for presentation and explaining technical concepts and information.
• Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and other desktop programs for reporting purposes.

• MS or postgraduate degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related discipline or equivalent education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in exercising independent judgment for design, fabrication, assembly, testing, use, and evaluation of prototype equipment under general direction.
• Experience in development of optical fiber systems, automated systems, and communication systems.
• Experience in providing IT support and understanding of computer networking.

• 80% - Research Development and Implementation
• 10% - Research Project Management
• 10% - Research Project Initiation and Reporting

The Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology (AHMCT) Research Center is the largest Center within MAE. This position is 100% funded by extramural support and is subject to the continued availability of such support.