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 Signals and Systems Division (SASD) in the Advanced Concepts Laboratory (ACL) seeks qualified candidates for an Electronic Systems Architect within the Operations Research Branch (ORB). This Research Faculty position involves synthesizing hardware, software, and systems-level considerations into advanced cyber-physical architectures.

SASD consists of a staff of research professionals engaged in a portfolio of research related to next-generation aerospace technology analysis and innovation, including RF/EO/IR sensor physics, signal processing algorithms and techniques, electronic warfare, effects-based modeling and simulation, verification and validation, advanced threat analysis, and operations research/developmental planning. ACL 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.

This mid- to senior-level Electronic Systems Architect position involves blending traditional systems engineering processes, such as functional decomposition, requirements definition, architecture development and analysis, with a deep understanding of hardware, software, and cyber-physical systems. The successful candidate for this position has a firm grasp of systems architecting concepts and can demonstrate application of them on real-world, complex military systems of systems. They have the ability to interface with and be a part of a cross-functional team consisting of software developers, operations research analysts, and modeling and simulation engineers, as well as present their work before GTRI’s customer base. The successful candidate will balance project commitments to meet team goals, working with sponsors, engineers, and GTRI management. They will be given leadership of sub-tasks and will be mentored to develop skills in leading projects and people, presenting their work to external stakeholders, and engaging sponsors to identify potential opportunities and contribute to proposals.

Job Purpose

The Electronic Systems Architect designs, develops, and deploys integrated hardware, software, and total electronic system solutions for the organization. This position provides significant technical leadership in the organization through technical team leadership, leading design decisions on major programs, providing recommendations and implementation details about system modules including software, hardware technologies, and deployment requirements. The Electronic Systems Architect has the ability to independently implement or provide technical leadership to any portion of the design process.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop system architectures to deploy complex electronic systems
• Support all phases of program execution, but primarily invest time in the program design and implementation phases
• Perform comparative analysis to similar systems, assessing system strengths and weaknesses
• Research system theory and design concepts and implementation methods to help in determining system functionality, state of the art, and potential weaknesses
• Lead team performing system design and development
• Significant contributions to white papers, competitive proposals

Additional Responsibilities

• Identify new opportunities for research in system architecting
• Contribute to overall community’s knowledge through publishing, presenting, and participating in national societies and symposia
• Integrate with study planning, mission modeling, and data analysis functional teams
• Generate and document systems requirements and design implementations
• Develop skills and training as part of the greater GTRI workforce using professional development funding
• Contribute to the innovative, cutting-edge software research using Independent Research and Development (IRAD)

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Candidates currently enrolled in an accredited degree program relevant to this position will be considered. The candidate must have a graduation date of no later than May, 2026.
• BS in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline
• At least two (2) years of experience or demonstrated proficiency with at least one of the following languages: Python, MATLAB, C++, Java, R
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. Must be able to convey highly technical material in a clear, concise manner to a nontechnical audience
• Able to act in varied roles as both a technical resource and in leadership positions
• Able to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI Clearance
• MS or PhD in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline
• At least seven (7) years post-degree, relevant full-time experience
• Experience developing complex, software-intensive, military or avionics systems using system engineering processes and methodologies.
• Software experience with Python libraries such as pandas, NumPy, and Jupyter Notebooks
• Familiarity with Cameo Systems Modeler or its related family of tools, including Teamwork Cloud
• Experience utilizing DevOps tools such as the Atlassian tool suite or GitLab
• Direct contribution to business development opportunities: identifying leads, preparing proposals, and obtaining contract awards
• Direct leadership, supervision, or management of a team

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

• 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline
• 3 years of related experience with a Masters’ degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline
• 0 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline

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 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.