Transportation Asset Management Software Specialist - Chicago Area - Applied Research Associates, Inc

ARA is seeking professionals with interest and a background in transportation infrastructure management to work full-time for our Transportation Infrastructure Division and grow our team in the Chicago area.

In this position, you will be responsible for working directly with clients to learn and implement their specific software packages and use that knowledge with existing and new clients. This work includes all capital assets in our client’s enterprise, such as pavements, bridges, facilities, traffic control devices (signs, signals, markings, etc.), and safety assets.

The ideal candidate will be able to translate real-world business practices into data requirements and computational logic that represents as-is, state-of-the-practice, and client-specific rules for infrastructure management. You will also work with prospective clients to determine their needs and create new projects that provide deliverables that support those needs.

ARA has over 40 years of experience in transportation asset management, and our specialists are actively involved in all aspects of this field including problem solving, using subject matter knowledge and innovation to offer high-quality solutions to our clients, communicating results of our projects, marketing to bring in new business, and writing high-quality proposals.

This position requires travel to project sites and some on-site work at client offices. Travel is also required for business development purposes and for collaboration with colleagues in the ARA office in Champaign, IL.

What you will do as a transportation asset management software specialist:

• Serve as a subject matter expert in the field, including business analysis, determining appropriate metrics for different asset classes, designing data collection plans, reviewing available data sets, performance modeling, statistical analysis, and system implementation.
• Perform business development tasks to grow your professional network, provide technical presentations at conferences/local area meetings and for potential clients, etc.
• Participate in and lead writing proposals in response to RFPs/RFQs and other solicitations. Must be able to effectively lead the proposal team in meeting all requirements.
• Lead project execution as a project manager or technical advisor. Work with your project team and other project managers to execute project work, including data analysis and system implementation.
• Work with technical staff to complete data collection, evaluation, data analysis, software development, and system implementation in a professional manner with attention to accurate and complete deliverables.
• Ensure on-schedule project delivery, on budget, and interface with others to resolve any challenges.

Transportation asset management software specialist requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in one of the following fields from an accredited U.S. institution:

• • Civil Engineering
  • GIS
  • Computer Science

• 10+ years of experience in government services (either as an agency employee or consultant) in areas related to transportation or facility management.
• Experience using ArcGIS for asset management projects.
• Experience/familiarity with LiDAR data and Python and/or R coding desired.
• Experience with commercial asset management software (e.g. PAVER, StreetSaver, and/or other commercial/proprietary systems), specification development, database administration, software development, or management a plus. Please discuss your specific experience (software, programming language, database management systems, etc.) in your résumé.
• Proven record of successful project development and management.
• Strong communication (written and verbal) and organizational skills.
• Personnel management experience a plus.

About ARA:

ARA is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs more than 2,200 professionals and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in civil technologies, computer software and simulation, defense technologies, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for pavement analysis, environmental site characterization, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawn’s greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)