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

Serves on US European Command (USEUCOM)  Staff as Deputy Chief Technology Officer (Deputy CTO), principal technical expert, industry liaison, and operational lead for emerging technology. As the CTO is dual‑hatted as Director, ECJ8 (Requirements & Resource Integration Directorate), the Deputy CTO runs the day‑to‑day technology portfolio, driving modernization, accelerating adoption, and linking capability development with the commercial innovation ecosystem.  This is an IPA (Intergovernmental Personnel Act) position.

Primary duties:

Capability Gap Analysis & Advocacy

Turns operational deficits into actionable technology requirements. Synthesizes analysis, wargames, and intelligence to identify critical joint operational problems. Drafts Key Operational Problems as clear, unclassified demand signals for industry, innovation cells, and partners. Manages technology inputs to the Integrated Priority List, ensuring requirements are documented, technically sound, and prioritized.

Operational Acceleration, Experimentation, and Prototyping

Leads transition of emerging technologies from concept to operational use. Aligns experimentation and prototyping with USEUCOM Key Operational Problems. Oversees evaluation and transition of prototypes to scalable fielded solutions, coordinating with components using unmanned systems, advanced sensors, and COTS platforms. Works with cyber defense and red teams to assess security and balance mission risk.

Resource Synchronization and Industry Liaison

Bridges USEUCOM needs and external providers. Serves as primary liaison to commercial tech, the defense industrial base, and venture capital. Works with Defense Innovation Unit (DIU(, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO), resource sponsors, and non‑traditional funding to secure resources and transition paths. Uses Other Transactional Authority (OTA), Middle Tier of Acquisition, SBIR/STTR, and similar mechanisms to accelerate commercially derived solutions and align investments with USEUCOM priorities.

Strategic Technology Advisement and Vision

Advises senior leaders on emerging technology, market trends, and risk. Aligns tech integration with the Chief Data and AI Officer and the ECJ6 (Communications Officer) so architectures (e.g., JADC2, zero‑trust) support solutions. Coordinates with CTOs across other Combatant Commands and the Joint Staff to share lessons and scale successful technologies across the joint force.

Job Purpose

The Research Program Manager directs and oversees a portfolio of research projects that includes internal and external sponsor and stakeholder engagement. The Research Program Manager is responsible both for the oversight of technical execution, schedule, and budget of assigned portfolios. Specifically, the Research Program Manager develops the planning of programs and future projects through routine interactions with stakeholders. The Research Program Manager develops trusted relationships with sponsors and also serves in an advisory capacity to critical stakeholders defining the technical direction of projects and technical thrusts.

Key Responsibilities

Capability Gap Analysis & Advocacy

• Turns operational deficits into actionable technology requirements
• Synthesizes analysis, wargames, and intelligence to identify critical joint operational problems
• Drafts Key Operational Problems as clear, unclassified demand signals for industry, innovation cells, and partners
• Manages technology inputs to the Integrated Priority List, ensuring requirements are documented, technically sound, and prioritized

Operational Acceleration, Experimentation, and Prototyping

• Leads transition of emerging technologies from concept to operational use
• Aligns experimentation and prototyping with USEUCOM Key Operational Problems
• Oversees evaluation and transition of prototypes to scalable fielded solutions, coordinating with components using unmanned systems, advanced sensors, and COTS platforms
• Works with cyber defense and red teams to assess security and balance mission risk

Resource Synchronization and Industry Liaison

• Bridges USEUCOM needs and external providers
• Serves as primary liaison to commercial tech, the defense industrial base, and venture capital
• Works with Defense Innovation Unit (DIU(, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO), resource sponsors, and non‑traditional funding to secure resources and transition paths
• Uses Other Transactional Authority (OTA), Middle Tier of Acquisition, SBIR/STTR, and similar mechanisms to accelerate commercially derived solutions and align investments with USEUCOM priorities

Strategic Technology Advisement and Vision

• Advises senior leaders on emerging technology, market trends, and risk
• Aligns tech integration with the Chief Data and AI Officer and the ECJ6 (Communications Officer) so architectures (e.g., JADC2, zero‑trust) support solutions
• Coordinates with CTOs across other Combatant Commands and the Joint Staff to share lessons and scale successful technologies across the joint force

Required Minimum Qualifications

This position requires a unique blend of commercial technology acumen and defense adaptability.

Core Industry & Ecosystem Understanding (Day-One Requirements)

Ecosystem Architect & Trusted Curator

• Extensive experience operating within commercial technology ecosystems (venture capital, defense-tech startups, or commercial R&D)
• Proven ability to build high-trust networks and act as a "trusted filter" to protect both the command's focus and the commercial sector's time

  Operational Translation & Problem Declassification:

• Demonstrated capability to abstract complex, classified military operational concepts and translate them into unclassified, commercially actionable technical problem statements without losing mission relevance

Emerging Technology Horizon Scanning

• Exceptional technical breadth across emerging technologies with a focus on their immediate operational utility rather than theoretical research

Entrepreneurial Friction Reduction

• A proven track record of navigating complex, highly regulated legacy organizations to build coalitions, bypass administrative bottlenecks, and accelerate project delivery

Preferred Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI Clearance

• Department of War (DoW) Institutional Integration (Trainable / Supported by J8 (Requirements & Resource Integration Directorate Staff)Joint Operations & Theater Awareness

• General familiarity with the strategic environment of the European Area of Responsibility (AOR)

Resource & Requirements Familiarity

• Basic understanding of how the DoW funds and prioritizes capabilities (such as the Integrated Priority List (IPL) or Program Objective Memorandum (POM) cycle)
• Must be capable of partnering with J8 staff officers who will handle the formal documentation and processing of technical solutions

Joint Staff Liaison

• Ability to communicate technical risk and opportunities to senior Flag/General Officers, translating highly complex technical concepts into clear military strategy

Travel Requirements

10% - 25% travel

Education and Length of Experience

Level 6

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

• 20 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or National Security Related Fields
• 18 years of related experience with a Masters’ degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or National Security Related Fields
• 15 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or National Security Related Fields

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 Institute 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 Institute 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.

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia (“USG”) and Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of an individual’s race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. 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.