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 Photonics & Microelectronics Division (PMD) in the Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL) of GTRI is searching for a Photonic IC Engineer, with significant experience in design, tapeout, and characterization. The Photonics and Microelectronics Division currently performs advanced research and development that involves novel photonic and RF system concepts; design & packaging of photonic integrated circuits and RF/millimeter-wave ICs; developing new materials and micro-electronic devices; and assembling spacecraft hardware. These components and sub-systems are used in a variety of applications, primarily in aerospace and national security platforms. The successful candidate will support work across the Division, as described in the Additional Responsibilities section.

Job Purpose

A Photonics Engineer advances and matures the state-of-the-art in integrated circuits that interact with electromagnetic signals. Their research centers on the development of RFICs and/or photonic IC (PICs) technology enabled through a diverse set of material systems, including Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)-based silicon, silicon germanium (SiGe), and compound semiconductors (InP, GaAs, GaN and their associated ternary and quaternary compositions). The engineer is versed in the design and development of electronic, radio frequency, millimeter wave, and photonics design and development. Technology breakthroughs are achieved through a broad skill set covering numerous stages of the fabrication process including simulation, design, layout, packaging, and characterization of ICs, as well as integration into higher-level systems (such as board-level, component-level, and systems-level). The engineer works as part of a broad team of researchers to innovate new concepts, identify technology stakeholders, and execute challenging research in the national interest.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead designer of RF/Analog IC project tasks
• Serves as a lead contributor and author to technical journals and publications
• Presents project presentations and technical reports under the supervision of more experienced engineers
• Significant contributions to technical reports and presentations
• Begin to take ownership of small team development, mentoring others
• Significant contributions to white papers and competitive proposals
• Supports sponsor engagements.

Additional Responsibilities

• Conduct benchtop experiments in the optics laboratory using free-space and fiber optics, lasers, modulators, amplifiers, photodetectors, photonic integrated circuits, etc.
• Test, characterize, package custom ICs on a probe station
• Integrate custom photonic into functional circuit card assemblies
• Model and simulate optical systems, devices, and structures

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Degree in electrical engineering, microelectronics, physics, applied physics, or closely related field
• B.S. with 5-8 years relevant work experience; or M.S. with 3-6 years relevant work experience, or Ph.D. with 0-3 years relevant work experience.
  •  Candidates currently enrolled in an accredited degree program for MS or PhD relevant to this position will be considered. The candidate must have a graduation date of no later than August 2026
• Experience taping out PICs in a foundry process, including design, layout and characterization after fabrication.
• Experience with photonic component and system simulation software such as Lumerical, OptSim, VPI Photonics, Optodesigner, Cadence or similar.
• Experience with IC design and layout tools such as Cadence, Synopsis, or Klayout.
• Experience with common simulation tools such as MATLAB or Python
• Strong sense of curiosity in both the technical and non-technical aspects of working in applied research.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications-

• Active Secret Clearance
• Multiple tapeouts of Photonic ICs in foundry processes such as silicon photonics, indium phosphide, or lithium niobate, including design, tapeout, and characterization of fabricated PICs. (Being specific on resume will be helpful)
• Research experience and understanding of radiation effects on discrete and integrated photonic components
• Additional capabilities in analog RF IC design, tapeout, fabrication, and characterization, in foundry processes such as GaN, GaAs, SiGe, etc.
• Additional capabilities in digital IC design in CMOS foundry processes.
• Working knowledge of semiconductor & CMOS device physics; reliability mechanisms; measuring & modeling failure analysis & reliability for discrete devices & ICs
• Characterization and test of bare RF die in a probe station; load pull measurements
• Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas to a non-technical audience
• Experience performing basic electrical and optical measurements using equipment such as spectrum analyzers, high-speed oscilloscopes, network analyzers, power meters, and signal analyzers.
• Strong knowledge of photonics design, fabrication, and device physics.

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

• 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Microelectronics, Physics, or closely related discipline
• 3 years of related experience with a Masters’ degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Microelectronics, Physics, or closely related discipline
• 0 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Microelectronics, Physics, or closely 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.