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) Advanced Communication Systems Branch (ACSB) is looking for Signal Processing Engineers who are eager and capable to research and develop future technology platforms supporting innovative adaptive communications and broad range spectrum-sensing systems and are looking for a dynamic and challenging work environment.

The Division's projects fuse advanced signal processing, adaptive communications, advanced algorithms, and machine learning to research and develop solutions for systems that include adaptive communications, intelligent wideband spectrum sensing, electronic warfare systems, and next-generation wireless network technologies, including 6G/FutureG. The Division supports work across many branches of the Department of War (DoW), including the Army, Navy, and Office of the Secretary of War for Research and Engineering.

The ideal candidate is an experienced Signal Processing Engineer with a diversified background in related domains such as radar, communications, electronic warfare, signals intelligence, and/or communications security. Candidates shall have experience with project planning, technical approach development and execution, and demonstrated capabilities to create innovative ideas and progress from concept to prototype. Candidates should have a strong desire to work with other team members to design, implement, test and field innovative communications platforms with signal processing algorithms after performing tradeoff analysis to provide solutions for communications and spectrum sensing problems of interest to the DoW.

As a researcher, the candidate shall develop innovative concepts and areas of research to investigate, and advance. Additionally, the candidate shall contribute to team efforts to propose and shape paths of inquiry, identify target objectives, and define actionable research tasks to drive research pursuits and directions.

Job Purpose

Develops and/or applies mathematical, statistical, computational, or modeling techniques to generate algorithms for the processing of analog or digital signals, which may be performed in hardware, firmware, or software systems. Development includes implementation of time and frequency signal algorithms, communications and spectrum sensing algorithms, image processing algorithms and/or the application of sensing and perception algorithms in computer vision, lidar, or other sensor processing modalities. Utilizes complex engineering and mathematical principles to compose algorithm structures for problem solutions including the application of filtering and data fusion methods.  Applies algorithms to application specific hardware by writing code in assembly language or in a higher level software environment and integrates or interfaces with additional systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform basic signal processing with supervisor direction
• Document work in written and presentation form
• Contribute to algorithm application discussions
• Contribute to technical reports/presentations of projects, journal articles, and conference presentations

Additional Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, characterize and test leading-edge waveform and communications technologies enabling greater performance while enhancing capabilities through robust, resilient, and secure communications.
• Develop and/or apply mathematical, statistical, computational, or modeling techniques to generate algorithms for the processing of digital or analog signals, which may be performed in hardware, firmware, or software systems. Development includes implementation of time and frequency signal processing algorithms, communications and spectrum sensing algorithms and/or the application of sensing and perception algorithms in lidar or other sensor processing modalities.
• Further tasks include utilizing complex engineering and mathematical principles to compose algorithm structures for problem solutions including the application of filtering and data fusion methods as well as applying algorithms to application specific hardware by writing code for embedded systems or in a higher-level software environment to integrate or interface with additional systems.
• Support and perform adaptive algorithm research and participate in the execution of projects, including attending technical meetings, completing assigned technical tasks, collaborating with colleagues, and presenting their research to the technical team and team leads.
• Contribute to the development of innovative concepts and programs of research to investigate, advance, and create understanding of emerging problems and solution opportunities in communications technology and applications domains. Propose and shape paths of inquiry, identify target objectives, and define actionable research tasks to drive research pursuits and directions.
• Investigate, develop, and document technology approaches and solutions that produce valuable objective findings and outcomes for internal and sponsored research programs. Recognize, communicate, and report on objective findings and their implications and value.
• Support current research efforts, contribute to whitepapers and proposals, and influence technical direction.
• Conduct solution and system design synthesis translating objectives into requirements, and requirements into physical architectures and solutions for networks of high complexity
• Tasking will be assigned to leverage the existing skills of the candidate, including physics-based modeling, application of advanced mathematical techniques for data processing, digital signal processing, signals analysis, communication and spectrum system modeling, and system performance prediction.
• Work with team members to develop AI/ML methods for controlling and optimizing the performance of communications systems
• Provide guidance and mentoring to more junior research staff and student researchers in all research domains and activities.

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.
• Experience in professional signal processing development
• Demonstrated experience in communications, spectrum sensing, electromagnetics, signal processing, machine learning / artificial intelligence, applied mathematics
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work individually and as part of a team
• Ability to work in a research environment where there are many unknowns and undiscovered paths
• Ability to operate effectively, maintain productivity, and make well-reasoned decisions despite incomplete information and requirements, while elucidating objectives and target outcomes
• Ability to be granted Secret Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Secret Clearance or higher
• Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or a related field
• 7+ years of experience in professional signal processing development
• Background in communications and spectrum applications and related algorithms
• Experience in developing advanced communication systems, implementing or designing waveforms, and integrating communication implementations on SDR platforms
• Expertise in electromagnetics, modeling & simulation, machine learning/artificial intelligence, image, or control theory
• Experience with electronic warfare threat systems
• Experience with cellular communications systems, technologies, and specifications, including ORAN
• Experience programming in MATLAB
• Experience in implementing algorithms in FPGAs (Xilinx) using HDL
• Experience in C/C++ software and systems design and implementation (C++11, C++20)
• Demonstrated recent experience in performing and/or leading research projects

Travel Requirements

10% - 25% travel

Education and Length of Experience

Levels 1, 2, 3, 4

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

• 0 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or related field.

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.