Overview
Description
This recruitment is open for a two-week period or until a sufficient number of applications are received and may close at any time without prior notice. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.
Role
Shape the Future of Transportation in Our Region
The Transportation Analysis and Modeling group plays a central role in how our region plans, invests in, and delivers transportation solutions. Our work informs billion-dollar decisions, advances climate goals, improves cross-border mobility, and prepares our communities for emerging technologies.
Join the team responsible for designing and advancing one of the most sophisticated transportation modeling suites in the country. You will help maintain and enhance a portfolio of models, including the Activity-Based Model (ABM), Commercial Vehicle Model (CVM), Cross Border Model (CBM), and other analytical tools.
In this role, you will:
- Advance cutting-edge modeling capabilities related to emerging technologies, transformative transportation modes, shared mobility, and evolving travel behavior
- Improve model efficiency, performance, and reliability to support high-stakes planning decisions
- Implement innovative features that respond to changing policy priorities and real-world conditions
- Provide technical expertise to support regional production modeling and applied analysis efforts
This position is ideal for someone who enjoys building systems, solving complex problems, and pushing the boundaries of transportation modeling. Your work will directly shape how our region plans for growth, sustainability, and economic vitality.
More information about SANDAG transportation modeling can be found at SANDAG – Transportation Modeling.
Overview of the Modeling Program
As a premier multimodal planning and project implementation agency, SANDAG depends on the strength, innovation, and credibility of its Transportation, Demographic, Economic, and Land Use Modeling programs. These tools are the analytical backbone of the region’s most consequential plans and investments.
Our team of highly skilled professionals supports a wide range of impactful initiatives, including:
- Long-range, coordinated transportation, economic, and land use plans
- Corridor and infrastructure development studies
- Major transit investment analyses
- Air quality and climate planning efforts
SANDAG’s nationally recognized and highly sophisticated Activity-Based Model (ABM) is among the most advanced in the country. As the transportation system continues to transform, we are advancing and updating our full modeling suite to reflect:
- Emerging transportation technologies
- Transformative travel modes
- Shared mobility services
- Changing traveler preferences and behaviors
Job Responsibilities
- Perform various duties related to the development, maintenance, and improvement of SANDAG’s ABM, CVM, and CBM.
- Perform research and participate in the development of modeling features related to emerging transportation technologies, transformative modes, and shared mobilities.
- Assist with the development and maintenance of custom software applications to support transportation modeling.
- Ensure transportation modeling tools and analytical capabilities are credible and effective for policy analysis; participate in quality assurance and quality control processes.
- Maintain GIS networks of current and future roadway, transit, and active transportation projects.
- Analyze and understand model run forecasts including performance metrics and mapping, travel behavior and impacts.
- Perform analysis of large data sets and translate findings into digestible information to help inform various agency projects.
- Research, collect, and compile data; ensure accuracy of information; maintain databases, and documentation.
- Develop and prepare transportation model data visualizations.
- Participate in and support project matrix teams assembled for transportation modeling analysis required for long-range regional plans and highway and transit investment studies.
- Participate in the integration of transportation and land use models; coordinate with economic and demographic research staff to determine data interactions.
- Coordinate with the Applied Research and Performance Monitoring team to ensure current and accurate traffic and passenger count data are being used.
- Assist with the preparation and presentation of written, oral, and visual reports for dissemination to policy and stakeholder committees, member agencies, community groups, private organizations, and members of the public.
Typical Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree in transportation modeling, computer science, mathematics, statistics, engineering, data science, management information systems, regional planning, geography, demographics, or a related field.
- One to two years (Level I and II) or three years (Associate level) of professional experience in transportation modeling, data analysis, and software development.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of travel demand modeling and forecasting; experience in development and/or the application of activity-based models is desirable.
- Experience programming in languages such as Java, Python, R, and SQL; experience developing and maintaining custom software applications to support modeling functions.
- Experience using modeling software such as EMME to support large, complex model development and applications projects.
- Experience using geographic information system software such as ESRI ArcGIS or QGIS.
- Experience with big/passive data and applications in travel demand modeling is preferable; research and/or modeling autonomous vehicles, transformative modes, and shared mobilities are desirable.
- Experience with data acquisition, compilation, and quality assurance/quality control methods; experience with relational databases such as SQL Server is desirable.
- Experience with ESRI software to include feature creation, scripting, mapping, and spatial analytics; knowledge of transportation network coding principals is preferable.
- Experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI, Plotly, or Esri Experience Builder.
- Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to maintain a high level of accuracy.
This recruitment is open for a two-week period or until a sufficient number of applications are received and may close at any time without prior notice. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.
This employer does not participate in the federal E-Verify program. Employment is contingent upon the employee’s ability to provide documentation verifying identity and authorization to work in the United States.
First Review of Applications: March 16, 2025 – Open until filled
Expected start date: May 2026
Salary Range:
This position will be filled at the I, II, or Associate level depending on qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.
Annual Salary Ranges:
- Researcher and Modeler I: $74,422 to $115,357
- Researcher and Modeler II: $82,077 to $127,234
- Associate Researcher and Modeler: $95,035 to $147,306
