Founded in 1893 as a Land Grant University, Montana State University (MSU) is composed of eight academic colleges and a graduate school and boasts a friendly, supportive faculty and campus environment. Currently, the University hosts an enrollment of over 14,000 students, including approximately 1,900 graduate students. MSU is classified as one of 108 U.S. Research Universities (very high research activity) by the Carnegie Foundation.

MSU is located in Bozeman, Montana, an extended community of about 70,000 nestled in the Rocky Mountains in southwest Montana. In addition to providing access to an extraordinary ecosystem for teaching and research programs, Bozeman is renowned for year-round recreational and cultural opportunities to include access to world class ski areas, multiple blue ribbon trout streams and the Gallatin National Forest. The local airport is served by seven national airlines with over twenty flights a day to nine cities.

Named an All American City, Bozeman boasts high-quality medical facilities, a very low crime rate, many fine restaurants, acclaimed public and private schools, a symphony orchestra and choir, an annual opera, and nationally known events such as the Sweet Pea Festival of the Arts held in early August of each year. Powder Magazine identified Bozeman, with "three distinctly different" major ski resorts within an hour's drive, as the number one place to live and ski in its November 2010 Magazine. Bizjournals.com ranked Bozeman #2 on the list of American Dreamtowns - small towns that offer the best quality of life without metropolitan hassles. The K-12 educational system, growing reputation of Montana State University, and pristine natural environment of the area combine to make Bozeman one of America's most desirable university towns. Bozeman is located in the beautiful Gallatin Valley, 90 miles north of Yellowstone National Park.

The Western Transportation Institute (WTI) is the nation’s premier university center for research on rural transportation issues. WTI was founded in 1994 by the Montana Department of Transportation and the California Department of Transportation in cooperation with Montana State University. WTI’s research focuses on safety and operations, road ecology, winter maintenance and materials, infrastructure materials and maintenance, systems engineering development and integration, and mobility and public transportation. WTI has research and demonstration projects in over 30 states. Located in the College of Engineering, WTI has an annual budget exceeding $8 million and an 80-person interdisciplinary staff of students, professionals and associated faculty from engineering (civil /industrial/mechanical/electrical), computer science, psychology, business, ecology, and economics.

WTI is headquartered at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. MSU, with an enrollment of approximately 14,000, is located in the majestic Rocky Mountains of Southwestern Montana, situated between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. Colorado College ranks the Gallatin Valley (home of Bozeman) as the healthiest place to live in the Rocky Mountains. Further, this same report gave the area top scores in livability, vibrancy, and vitality. Bozeman enjoys first-rate schools, medical services comparable to much larger communities, outstanding airline services and a quality of life that combines small town charm, pristine natural beauty and cultural sophistication.

The Systems Engineering, Development and Integration (SEDI) Program at WTI researches and applies best practices to evaluate and develop software, hardware and database, communication systems for transportation. SEDI staff work closely with sponsors and others at WTI to put research into practice. The SEDI Program is team-oriented, hands-on, and focuses on application. Staff and student researchers apply their expertise in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Education to address transportation problems with advanced technology. The Systems Engineering, Development and Integration Program laboratory provides advanced communication capability to staff from lab to roadside, along with facilities for fabrication and prototype development, and advanced software and hardware development. The SEDI Program has a range of research and development projects that involve a many states and federal agencies.

The Senior Research Associate will also develop proposals to secure contract and grant funding, direct and lead an interdisciplinary team of research staff and focus on fulfilling specific defined scopes of work. He/she will collaborate with sponsors to determine requirements of research and development as well as deployment needs. Telephone and internet communication with sponsors, as well as face-to-face visits and regular out-of-state/ country meetings will be required. The Senior Research Associate will work report to the SEDI Program Manager during research development, integration and deployment to ensure quality and to meet sponsor needs.

The Senior Research Associate will direct project research and development in the areas of systems and software engineering, analysis, development and integration for transportation research, education and training projects. The incumbent will interact with staff, faculty, students, stakeholders and sponsors, and will work closely with project teams, including staff in other program areas, to provide quality research, development and demonstration of technological solutions. Specific existing project activities include research and development related to software and hardware systems for weather and winter mobility, traveler information embedded systems, communication systems, public transportation, and rural applications of advanced technology. For this position it is anticipated that the major project responsibilities will be focused on two federally funded and nationally significant initiatives including the North/West Passage Operational and Travel Information Integration Sharing project that involves eight states (WA. ID, WY, MT, ND, SD, MN, and WI) that manage and operate I-90/ I94 Corridor; and the Federal Transit Administration Transit in Parks Technical Assistance Center (TRIPTAC) advanced technology application systems.

Job duties are to: conduct software and hardware-related research and development related to the Systems Engineering, Development and Integration research program area at WTI.

Specific duties include but are not limited to:

1. Providing system research and development leadership including software, hardware and human interface design; coding on a variety of systems including Windows, Linux, web (server), database, desktop, client-server, mobile data terminal, embedded and handheld; documentation of systems and code; testing of systems and subsystems.
2. Producing concise, accurate and audience appropriate documentation and training materials for the use, implementation, and deployment of computer, communications and general systems.
3. Oversee the development of test plans to comprehensively test systems, subsystems, and products, and thoroughly document test results.
4. Using online and print resources, direct contact with vendors by voice and/or by email, and product documentation to research and evaluate computer, communications and general systems products, research reports, specifications, white papers, standards, and other documentation.
5. Lead communication and interaction with research sponsors, university faculty, students, professional organizations, and vendors/manufacturers, including technical memoranda, final reports and general and technical documentation.
6. In a team environment, provide project-related technical support and assistance to staff and sponsors for the identification, procurement, installation, and maintenance of computer, communications, and general systems hardware and software.
7. Lead systems engineering processes by conducting requirements analyses and developing project related work scopes, evaluation plans, concepts of operations and related documents.
8. Working with a team to prepare draft and final project reports, quarterly reports and fulfilling sponsor requirements.
9. Reporting progress and results to researchers and sponsors at an audience appropriate level.
10. Conduct outreach to federal/ state agencies and private sector sponsors.
11. Conducting onsite implementation and training for technology developed within the program.
12. Attending staff, project and program area meetings as requested.

1. B.S. in Computer Science or a related field.
2. Significant management experience relating to project management, customer service, and technology development.
3. Significant software development experience including two or more of: web and other client-server applications, embedded systems, relational databases and graphical user interfaces in both UNIX/Linux and Windows Environments, smart phone applications.
4. Experience in both UNIX/Linux and Windows Environments.
5. Software development experience with languages such as but not limiting to Java, JavaScript, C, C++, MS-Access, MySQL, PHP, Python, Perl, HTML, CSS, XML, C#, ASP.NET and SQL-Server.

1. M.S. in Computer Science or a related field.
2. Demonstrated technical writing skills to develop systems/software and general engineering documents, reports and publications.
3. Experience in systems and software engineering in transportation or a related field, including demonstrated excellence in the assessment of system requirements and the development of software applications.
4. Industry-recognized certification: Cisco CCNP, Microsoft MCSE, etc.
5. “Hands-on” development and integration experience.
6. Understanding of general and rural transportation issues.
7. Experience with Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).

• Be a team player who uses a common sense approach to technical efforts, is detail-oriented, creative, hands-on, and highly responsible, self-motivated and will display exceptional independent problem solving ability from a position of technical respect.
• Have the ability to creatively develop and propose technology solutions, and to communicate clearly with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Access/Project) and Microsoft Visio.

• (1) a letter of application addressing the qualifications stated above, and
• (2) a resume or vita, and
• (3) the names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of three current professional references.

  Electronic submissions in PDF format are preferred, and must have the applicant's signature on the letter of application. For electronic submittals, please indicate "Applicant - Search #13104-33" in the subject line of the email.

  • Submit materials to:
  • Mr. Stephen Albert
  • Director
  • Western Transportation Institute
  • Montana State University
  • PO Box 174250
  • Bozeman MT 59717-4250
  • Phone: (406)994-6114; Fax: (406)994-1697
  • Stevea@coe.montana.edu

    In order to receive Veterans Preference during the application review process, it is highly recommended that the required forms are included at the time you submit your application materials. Click here for the forms and information regarding Veterans Preference. Important note: Your preference form is submitted to a different location than your application materials. A DD214 is not a required document.