R&D Associate Staff

Requisition Id 15901 

Level: RP02

­­Overview:  

The Applied Research for Mobility Systems (ARMS) Group at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory is seeking applicants for the position of Research and Development (R&D) Associate Staff to lead modeling, data analysis, and test method development for emerging medium- and heavy-duty vehicle technologies and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The role focuses on building and validating energy consumption models across various powertrains (e.g., conventional, battery electric, and fuel cell); performing techno-economic and carbon analyses at regional scales; aggregating and harmonizing disparate datasets; and advancing vehicle-in-the-loop (VIL) test capabilities, including over-the-air radar stimulation. The ideal candidate has strong experience with MATLAB/Simulink and Python, statistical frameworks, and hands-on test bench development, with a track record of delivering sponsor-facing technical reports and publications.

The ARMS group is within the Vehicle and Mobility Systems Research (VMSR) Section of the Buildings and Transportation Science Division (BTSD). The VMSR Section focuses on accelerating the development of advanced vehicles and complex mobility systems through advances in connected and autonomous vehicle technologies, communications, systems integration, and decision science. The objective of the ARMS Group is to provide leadership in advanced anything-in-the-loop research to accelerate the development of transportation technologies from component-level to full vehicles to traffic networks.

Research in ARMS group includes:

• Identify, collect, and process real-world data, such as road network information (geographic information systems data), traffic density and flow, signal timing plan, fleet population mix, routing, etc., and develop realistic scenarios in traffic microsimulation software and virtual environment/vehicle simulators.


• Establish detailed light-duty (LD), medium-duty (MD), and/or heavy-duty (HD) vehicle models with emerging mobility technology capabilities, such as connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), cooperative driving automation (CDA), and electrified vehicles. Develop simulations of these vehicles operating in diverse traffic, geographies, and environments to assess impact of emerging mobility technologies on the transportation system.


• Development and implementation of advanced software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) systems to support advanced powertrain, CAV and CDA control system design, validation, and verification.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Develop and validate longitudinal energy consumption models in Simulink for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles across gasoline, diesel, battery electric (BEV), and fuel cell electric (FCEV) powertrains.


• Create statistical frameworks to assess powertrain conversion feasibility for fleet vehicles based on duty cycle predictions, battery capacity, and vehicle constraints.


• Quantify charging/refueling infrastructure requirements (number, power level, and siting of dispensers) for fleet transitions, including depot and corridor scenarios.


• Design Python pipelines to aggregate and harmonize disparate datasets (e.g., energy prices, emissions factors, telematics/duty cycle data) and implement algorithms to optimally correlate data sources provided by sponsors.


• Conduct zip code or region-level energy pricing and well-to-wheel carbon emissions analyses for diesel, electric, and hydrogen truck operations.


• Build and enhance VIL test bench capabilities, including specifying, procuring, and integrating over-the-air radar stimulation hardware and mounting solutions.


• Develop methods for test run synchronization and create metrics/KPIs to characterize how well VIL testing represents closed-course ADAS testing.


• Lead vehicle selection and procurement for VIL testing; manage subcontracted closed-course test activities and vendor relationships.


• Document methodologies, code, and test procedures; author sponsor deliverables, technical reports, and peer-reviewed publications; present results to stakeholders (e.g., DOE, NHTSA).


• Collaborate cross-functionally with domain experts in mobility systems, controls, and data science to ensure model fidelity, reproducibility, and actionable insights.


• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or M.S. (with at least two years) in automotive engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, or related field with emphasis on vehicle systems, controls, or transportation energy.


• 1–3 years of experience in transportation electrification modeling, techno-economic analysis, or ADAS test development.


• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink and Python (data processing, statistical analysis, and scripting).


• Experience building physics-based energy models for MD/HD vehicles and working knowledge of BEV and FCEV powertrain components and duty cycles.


• Demonstrated ability to design statistical frameworks and analyze large, disparate datasets, including energy pricing and emissions data.


• Hands-on experience with test bench development and sensor integration; familiarity with radar and over-the-air stimulation concepts.


• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a record of technical reporting and publications.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience delivering projects for federal sponsors (e.g., DOE Vehicle Technologies Office, NHTSA) or similar.


• Background in corridor or depot charging analysis, hydrogen corridor planning, and drayage or parcel delivery fleet operations.


• Familiarity with optimization tools (e.g., Gurobi) and control libraries (e.g., CasADi, MPCTools, ACADO); comfort with model predictive control concepts.


• Experience with dSPACE, VISSIM, or similar simulation/test platforms.


• Knowledge of energy modeling, grid energy pricing structures, and regional variability.


• Proven capability in vehicle procurement, vendor management, and subcontract test coordination.


• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.


• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

Special Requirements: 

Candidates are expected to submit two letters of reference if they are selected for interview. You may upload these directly to your application or have them sent to [email protected] with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.

Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:

• Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov


• View Profile


• Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements:

For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required.  Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.

To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation.  This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year.  This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment.  Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.  

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: [email protected]

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.