Overview
The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Founded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,900 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $940 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry. GTRI's renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.
Georgia Tech's Mission and Values
Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:
1. Students are our top priority.
2. We strive for excellence.
3. We thrive on diversity.
4. We celebrate collaboration.
5. We champion innovation.
6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.
7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.
8. We act ethically.
9. We are responsible stewards.
Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.
Project/Unit Description
This position will work in the Electronic Systems (ELSYS) Laboratory, Quality Assurance (QA) Branch. The ELSYS QA Branch provides quality engineering oversight of external research projects in all ELSYS Divisions and field offices to determine if the technical project meets or exceeds all requirements. This oversight is critical in sustaining the ISO 9001 quality standard certification of ELSYS's Quality Management System and in identifying continuous improvement opportunities.
Job Purpose
The Research Quality Engineer studies and applies Quality Management principles to improve projects across GTRI and maintains the level of excellence in the work that the sponsors expect. The Research Quality Engineer balances an expertise in quality management standards with a fundamental understanding of specific programmatic and technical aspects of organizational research projects. The researcher defines best practices for project management, product design, and product development that are tailored for each sponsored research project. The Research Quality Engineer provides quality engineering oversight of externally sponsored research projects utilizing research product development technical expertise to determine if the effort complies with appropriate professional standards and meets technical project requirements. To prevent defects in organizational research deliverables, the Research Quality Engineer supports Project Directors with the determination of root cause analysis and corrective action identification, implementation and effectiveness verification. The researcher routinely publishes and presents research at national conferences such as those hosted by the American Society of Quality (ASQ) and contributes to quality assurance disciplines through authorship of refereed journal and symposium papers, invited conference presentations, or widely distributed reports which effect an education and technology information transfer. The Research Quality Engineer often pursues formal professional certifications such as the ASQ “Certified Quality Process Analyst” to recognize their expertise in analyzing and solving quality problems, and their involvement in quality improvement projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Research, analyze, and apply quality management standards, industry, and government regulatory requirements to determine compliant quality system processes, policies, and procedures
- Assist in defining best practices for project management, product design, and product development that are tailored for each sponsored research project that is directly supported
- Provide quality engineering oversight of externally sponsored research projects in a specific research area utilizing research product development technical expertise to determine if the effort complies with appropriate professional standards and meets technical project requirements
- Collaborate with the Project Directors in the determination of root cause analysis of defects in research deliverables and corrective action identification, implementation and effectiveness verification for the prevention of future defects in research deliverables
- Define, develop and implement quality audits throughout the life cycle of research projects in a specific research area to ensure sponsor product quality and the sustainment of organizational ISO 9001 certification
- Identify, develop, and implement process changes to support organizational and project continuous improvement efforts across ELSYS and GTRI
- Assist with coordination of on-site activities to support external audits; participate and provide justification and evidence of compliance in a specific area to external auditors in external audits
Additional Responsibilities
- Provide quality engineering oversight of external research projects of moderate scope utilizing research product development technical expertise to determine if the technical research project work meets technical project requirements and identify continuous improvement opportunities
- Contribute to quality assurance disciplines through authorship of refereed journal and symposium papers, invited conference presentations, or widely distributed reports
- Serve as task leader on audits, occasionally supervising another auditor.
Required Minimum Qualifications
- Experience working with ISO 9001 standards, Quality Management Systems and other process improvement/lean methodologies
- Experience in quality assurance, quality control, quality engineering and/or internal auditing
- Working knowledge of quality assurance methodologies, and quality engineering and control techniques.
Preferred Qualifications
- Active Secret Clearance
- Experience translating quality and regulatory standards to reliable and repeatable processes in a research and development environment (non-manufacturing environment)
- Experience with analyzing and understanding technical methodologies and systems in order to monitor and review project development and execution
Travel Requirements
<10% travel
Education and Length of Experience
Levels 4, 5
This position vacancy is an open-rank announcement. The final job offer will be dependent on candidate qualifications in alignment with Research Faculty Extension Professional ranks as outlined in section 3.2.1 of the Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook
- 9 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, System Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Data Analytics, or related field
- 7 years of related experience with a Masters’ degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, System Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Data Analytics, or related field
- 4 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, System Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Data Analytics, or related field
U.S. Citizenship Requirements
Due to our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be U.S. Citizens.
Clearance Type Required
Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain an active security clearance.
Benefits at GTRI
Comprehensive information on currently offered GTRI benefits, including Health & Welfare, Retirement Plans, Tuition Reimbursement, Time Off, and Professional Development, can be found through this link: https://benefits.hr.gatech.edu/.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.
Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. This prohibition applies to faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including affiliates, invitees, and guests. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.
All members of the USG community must adhere to the USG Statement of Core Values, which consists of Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values shape and fundamentally support our University's work. Additionally, all faculty, staff, and administrators must also be aware of and comply with the Board of Regents and Georgia Institute of Technology's policies on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom. More information on these policies can be found here: Board of Regents Policy Manual | University System of Georgia (usg.edu).