Andrew Francis

Andrew Francis is a Senior Environmental Software Engineer at RTI, where he deploys and hosts web applications in the cloud and manages large quantities of structured and unstructured data. Mr. Francis is an expert at optimizing and managing long-running processes, analyzing and summarizing environmental data, designing data collection and validating systems, and collaborating with diverse teams to develop tailored solutions. 

Currently, Mr. Francis works on the RTI CleanPlus portfolio, focused on testing and remediating lead and asbestos hazards in schools and childcare centers across North Carolina. He designed a comprehensive data model and collection workflow, emphasizing ease of use, efficiency, security, and quality. By partnering with engineers and scientists, Mr. Francis ensured that software features were impactful and aligned with real-world needs. His efforts supported data communication with a wide range of stakeholders, including the public, contractors, state officials, and public health professionals. Notably, he developed a cost estimation and invoicing tool that streamlined collaboration between contractors and RTI.

In his recent work, Mr. Francis led the development of a software application for water utilities' compliance with the new Lead and Copper Rule. Collaborating with subject matter experts, he engineered real-time data communication tools, sampling workflows, quality checks, analytics dashboards, and dynamic reports. These solutions helped water utilities seamlessly manage testing, data, and public communication, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations.

Mr. Francis also has extensive experience in building content management systems and implementing search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. His solutions empower stakeholders to manage and update their content efficiently, enhancing public engagement and adaptability to emerging challenges.

Prior to joining RTI, Mr. Francis served as a data scientist at Biowish. He created Tableau dashboards to present strategic market insights to senior management. He leveraged machine learning to analyze the impact of modifying soil and water microbiomes with biological treatment products, demonstrating improvements in key performance indicators (KPIs) for agriculture and wastewater treatment.

Additionally, Mr. Francis served as an environmental engineer research assistant at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. There, he performed statistical analyses and published a research paper on data collected for a water quality research project. He contributed to a technical presentation detailing the removal of arsenic from drinking water, and he managed the database, presentation of data, and samples for a pilot study investigating arsenic removal by iron oxidation. 

Mr. Francis holds several professional certificates, including the Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification, AWS Certified Practitioner, and SAS Certified Professional: Advanced Programming Using SAS 9.4.