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

GTRI’s Advanced Warfighting Technologies Division (AWTD) in the Advanced Concepts Laboratory (ACL) seeks qualified candidates for the position of Branch Head-Systems Engineer for the Technical Integration Branch (TIB). This position is to lead a team of researchers who integrate and prototype concepts and capabilities across counter-proliferation technologies, special operations enablers, and advanced ground maneuver concepts. In addition to providing prototyping support to AWTD, TIB supports the other divisions within the lab to develop TRL-6 prototypes to demonstrate ACL technologies at Government sponsored events.

Qualified candidates will have experience in leading projects and teams in areas such as cost, scope, schedule, and performance as well as experience in leading rapid prototyping projects.

The Advanced Warfighting Technologies Division engages in research related to counter-proliferation technologies, special operations enablers, and advanced ground maneuver concepts. AWTD provides technology development and tactical analysis for countering weapons of mass destruction, threat assessment and wargaming of ground maneuver and asymmetric warfare, and rapid technology integration and prototyping for rapid reaction warfighting capabilities for the U.S. Government and other sponsors.

The Advanced Concepts Laboratory develops tailored solutions for a broad range of national security challenges through disciplined application of physics- and effects-based modeling to realizable systems, augmented with prototype development and testing. ACL’s research thrusts extend across domains, and include bio-, chemical, RF, and optical-sensor physics; materials science and engineering; electromagnetic theory, computation, structures, and measurements; electronic warfare techniques and applications; operational scenario modeling and simulation; traditional and asymmetric threat analysis; and ground maneuver warfare.

The Technical Integration Branch (TIB) is a multi-disciplinary team composed of mechanical, electrical, computer, and software engineers that is responsible for the design and development of hardware and software prototypes in support of research projects. The Systems Engineer oversees and coordinates the work of technical teams on systems projects, ensuring the successful design, implementation, operation, and technical management of those projects. The Systems Engineer leads the design team in developing a system architecture that meets all of the requirements. After the system is designed, the Systems Engineer oversees the implementation of the system, working with the implementation team to ensure that it meets all of the requirements.

Branch Head position comes with Technical Working Title of Systems Engineer. Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer and Software Engineer will also be considered.

Job Purpose

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

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

• Oversee and manage sponsored research in the branch to ensure execution of successful research programs based on sponsor requirements
• Support branch operations and coordination across branches within the division and other GTRI labs
• Establish, maintain, and evolve the strategic vision and execution plan for the branch to enhance sponsored project portfolios and technical capabilities

Required Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience performing hands-on engineering projects and development activities
• Experience leading projects and teams in areas such as cost, scope, schedule, and performance
• Qualified candidates will have experience in leading rapid prototyping projects
• Ability to obtain and maintain DoD TS/SCI/SAP Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI Clearance

Travel Requirements

<10% 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 Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Systems Engineer, Robotics Engineer or other related field of study
• 7 years of related experience with a Masters’ degree in Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Systems Engineer, Robotics Engineer or other related field of study
• 4 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Systems Engineer, Robotics Engineer or other related field of study

Please refer to our Research Faculty Technical Level Guidelines for minimum requirements at the higher levels.

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.