Sky Real Estate is seeking a Principal Research Engineer to lead our internal Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) research initiatives. In this role, you will act as our in-house "Assistant Professor," bridging the gap between cutting-edge academic theory and practical field execution.
You will lead corporate research projects, pilot emerging technologies on active job sites, and manage our strategic partnerships with top-tier research universities. The ideal candidate holds a PhD and possesses a deep passion for translating academic innovation into scalable commercial profits, enhanced safety, and building efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
Corporate Research & Technology Piloting (50%)
- Lead internal R&D projects focused on modernizing construction operations (e.g., BIM/Digital Twins, AI-driven scheduling, robotic automation, and sustainable materials).
- Deploy and test prototypes on active construction sites, collecting empirical data to evaluate field performance and return on investment (ROI).
- Analyze operational bottlenecks within the company and design technical, data-driven solutions to optimize estimation, supply chain, and project safety.
- Author internal white papers, technical reports, and commercial patent applications based on proprietary research.
Academic & Institutional Partnerships (30%)
- Serve as the primary liaison between the company and university engineering departments.
- Manage industry-sponsored university research grants, ensuring academic deliverables align with corporate business goals.
- Identify and secure government innovation funding (e.g., NSERC Alliance, NSF partnerships) to subsidize corporate research ventures.
- Recruit top-tier talent by managing the company's graduate research internship and co-op pipelines.
Executive Advisory & Industry Thought Leadership (20%)
- Advise executive leadership on emerging global construction trends, tech disruptions, and strategic innovation investments.
- Represent the company at major international industry and academic conferences (e.g., ASCE, CRC).
- Conduct technical workshops to upskill internal project managers, superintendents, and estimators on newly adopted company technologies.
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements
- Ph.D. or Master’s degree with extensive research output in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technology field.
- A strong portfolio of published research or applied industrial patents in advanced construction methods.
- Excellent project management skills, with a proven ability to lead complex technical initiatives from conception to field implementation.
- Superb communication skills, specifically the ability to translate highly technical academic concepts into plain language for field crews and executives.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior academic experience (e.g., Postdoctoral Fellow, Adjunct Faculty, or Graduate Researcher).
- Professional Engineering Licensure (P.Eng. / P.E.) or specialized certifications (CCM, PMP, LEED AP, or BIM certifications).
- Hands-on experience with coding, data science tools (Python, R), automation hardware, or advanced BIM software solutions.