Safety Data System Administrator

Safety Data System Administrator

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is seeking a forward-thinking, highly motivated individual with strong technical expertise and communication skills. The successful candidate will develop, validate, and deploy machine learning models and analytical tools to support data-driven transportation safety decisions.

About the Role

In this role, you will integrate multi-source data, build predictive risk models, and translate complex outputs into actionable insights. Your work will directly influence project prioritization, safety analysis, and policy development. We are looking for someone with the curiosity to examine current practices, improve department operations, and help stakeholders identify and overcome analytical biases.

Position Information

• Salary Range: $43.14 - $68.43
• FT/PT Status: Full time
• Schedule Code: B - Competitive Career Service (12 month probation)
• Location: Calvin Rampton Building, 4501 South 2700 West, Taylorsville, Utah
• Application Deadline: 06/15/2026

Key Responsibilities

• Problem Framing, Communication, and Reporting
  • Collaborate with planners, engineers, data managers, and analysts to integrate predictive analytics into transportation plans, project prioritization, and safety programs.
  • Use advanced statistical methods to validate causal relationships.
  • Communicate findings, model results, assumptions, and limitations clearly to diverse stakeholders.
  • Align outputs with state and federal regulatory reporting requirements.
  • Train internal staff to effectively use AI-driven decision-making tools.
• Data Acquisition, Integration, and Governance
  • Build efficient data pipelines to clean, normalize, and merge spatial and temporal datasets.
  • Maintain strict data quality, consistency, and documentation standards.
  • Establish strong data governance practices, including version control, traceability, and reproducibility.
• Model Development and Validation
  • Develop and implement predictive models (e.g., crash frequency/severity, roadway segment risk scoring, and before-and-after safety performance) to forecast transportation risks.
  • Apply regression, tree-based, spatial, and time-series modeling techniques.
  • Validate model performance using out-of-sample testing and cross-validation.
• AI/ML Integration and Production
  • Translate models into functional components within AI-based software, such as dashboards, APIs, and scoring engines.
  • Ensure all model outputs are interpretable, avoiding "black box" algorithms.
  • Partner with software developers to deploy, optimize, and maintain models in production environments.
• Monitoring, Ethics, and Compliance
  • Maintain documentation and version control for transparency
  • Evaluate models for geographic, demographic, or systemic biases to promote fairness and accountability.
  • Ensure full compliance with transportation safety standards and federal funding programs, such as the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP).

Qualifications

• Education + Experience: A Bachelor’s degree or higher in Data Science, Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, Computer Science, Geography/GIS, or a related quantitative field, PLUS at least six (6) years of professional experience in one or more of these fields.
• Experience Only: Ten (10) years of directly related professional experience in a quantitative field (substituting for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis).

Preferred Qualifications

• Cloud Infrastructure & Deployment: Developing, testing, and deploying machine learning models into production environments, specifically utilizing the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) or similar cloud technologies.
• Database Management: Writing efficient SQL queries and working within large, complex relational databases.
• Business Intelligence & Analytics: Designing dashboards, data visualizations, and decision-support tools for operational staff using platforms like Looker/Data Studio, Power BI, or similar software.
• Transportation Systems & GIS: Working with geospatial data, enterprise GIS systems, and Linear Referencing Systems (LRS) to manage mapping and analysis within transportation data warehouses.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Statistical Software Proficiency: Strong working knowledge of statistical analysis software packages, specifically R, Python, SAS, or equivalent programming languages.
• Advanced Modeling & Statistics: A solid foundation in applied statistics, including regression analysis, time-series forecasting, tree-based models (e.g., Random Forest, Gradient Boosting), and spatial/spatio-temporal modeling.
• Model Validation & Interpretability: Ability to perform model validation, evaluate performance metrics, and apply interpretability techniques such as SHAP or feature importance.
• Geospatial Expertise: Practical understanding of GIS concepts and mapping tools, specifically ESRI/ArcGIS or related platforms.
• Transportation Programs & Compliance: Familiarity with public-sector transportation frameworks (State DOTs, MPOs, or local agencies) and federal compliance, including the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP).
• Project & Contract Management: Ability to collaborate effectively with consultants and oversee external analytics contracts.
• Technical Communication: Skill in producing transparent documentation for federal reporting, compliance audits, and public transparency.

Why You Should Join Our Team

The Agency

For more information on the Utah Department of Transportation, click here.

Benefits at a Glance

• Exceptional Health Coverage: We offer some of the most competitive medical premiums in the industry, including comprehensive family plans with very low out-of-pocket costs and HSA options.
• Retirement Choice: Flexibility between a 10% employer-paid 401(k) (no match required) or a Pension/401(k) Hybrid plan.
• Generous Paid Time Off: 12 paid holidays per year plus 8 hours of combined leave (4 annual and 4 sick) accrued each pay period.
• Dental & Vision: Multiple high-quality plan options to fit your needs.

EEO Statement

The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For accommodations, please contact (801) 957-9390.

Recruiter: Jill Barela, [email protected]