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

The Information and Communications Laboratory (ICL) Communications Systems and Spectrum Division (CSSD) is looking for a Branch Head for the Advanced Communication Systems Branch (ACSB) / senior Communications Engineer who is eager and capable to support the development of platforms supporting innovative communications and spectrum-sensing systems across a broad range of spectrum and is looking for a dynamic and challenging work environment.

The Division's projects fuse advanced signal processing, communications technologies, advanced algorithms, machine learning, and sophisticated modeling and simulation to develop solutions for systems that include cognitive communications, intelligent wideband spectrum sensing, electronic warfare systems, and next-generation cellular network technologies, including 5G / FutureG. The Division supports work across many branches of the Department of Defense (DoD), including the Army, Navy, and Office of the Secretary of Defense. Key products include deployed prototype systems, communication and spectrum sensing systems, machine learning algorithms, physics-based modeling and simulation tools, and system analyses.

The responsibilities of the Branch Head are divided between leadership and independent research. The ideal candidate is a highly experienced Communications Engineer with a diversified background and exposure to related domains such as radar, electronic warfare, signals intelligence, and/or secure communications. Additionally, the ideal candidate has held leadership positions and has experience with supporting individuals in professional development and career planning. Candidates should have a strong desire to work with other team members while designing, implementing, testing and fielding innovative communications platforms with integrated signal processing algorithms after performing tradeoff analysis to provide solutions for communications and spectrum sensing problems of interest to the DoD.

Job Purpose

Lead multiple sponsored research projects. Manage Branch (7-15 FTE) administrative activities including hiring, appraisals and sponsored project success.

Research, design, development and prototyping of communications equipment and systems. Utilizing experience and knowledge of end-to-end communications systems to architect novel and robust communications systems including emerging software-defined radio platforms and other emerging commercial communication systems and advanced tactical networks. Establish key performance requirements for various target radios across multiple operating bands, environments and targeted applications. Develop, implement, characterize and test leading-edge waveform and communications technologies enabling greater performance while enhancing EW capabilities through secure communications.

Key Responsibilities

• Recognized SME in technical domain. Lead and/or contribute to white papers and proposals
• Seek out and respond to opportunities for new research
• Support presentations and travel to support new business development • Ensure that the branch is continuing to pursue new and novel research efforts through judicious use of internal R&D funding
• Lead branch hiring activities including development of position vacancy announcements, resume reviews, interviews and onboarding
• Determine branch hiring needs
• Lead role on manpower planning for branch personnel
• Conduct staff appraisals
• Support Monthly Project Status Review meetings
• Coordinate with division leadership as required
• Lead branch hiring activities including development of position vacancy announcements, resume reviews, interviews and onboarding
• Determine branch hiring needs
• Lead role on manpower planning for branch personnel
• Conduct staff appraisals
• Support Monthly Project Status Review meetings. Coordinate with division leadership as required

Additional Responsibilities

• Identify new opportunities to expand our advanced communication systems sponsor base
• Research activities supporting sponsored projects
• Program management of specific research projects
• Managing researchers with diverse skill sets such as software, firmware, and hardware design
• Development and execution of internal research and development programs supporting the division strategic vision
• Development of proposals for new research efforts

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Experience in developing advanced communication systems, implementing or designing waveforms, and integrating communication implementations on SDR platforms
• Deep understanding of communications theory related to radio frequency devices
• Demonstrated recent performance in successful development of external customers, proposal development, and sponsor awards
• Demonstrated recent experience in leading research projects and managing researchers
• Demonstrated technical achievements in the research related to ACSB technical areas,
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Secret Clearance
• PhD in Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field
• 12 years of experience in communications systems research or development
• Experience with electronic warfare threat systems
• Expertise in signal processing, electromagnetics, modeling & simulation, machine learning, image, or control theory

Travel Requirements

10% - 25% travel

Education and Length of Experience

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 Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or related fields of study.
• 7 years of related experience with a Masters’ degree in Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or related fields of study.
• 4 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or related fields of study.

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.

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.