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 Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems Division’s (EISD’s) research is performed in all areas of the imaging chain. From basic geometric/radiometric modeling and analysis, through design and fabrication, to test and evaluation in the field, our team provides subject matter expertise to our customers in order to solve their most challenging problems in undersea, ground, airborne, and space domains. EISD is a collection of multi-disciplinary engineers and scientists encompassing optical, physics, mechanical, electrical, computer, and software domains, among others. Our portfolio consists of research programs in and related to the following application areas: Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR); Undersea Warfare; Atmospheric Optics; Tactical Imaging, e.g. Degraded Visual Environments (DVE); Automatic Target Recognition; Intelligence Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (PED); Free-space Optical Communications; Space Situational Awareness (SSA); Tagging, Tracking, and Locating (TTL); LIDAR; Remote Sensing; etc.

Job Purpose

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. Taking a holistic approach to systems engineering, the Systems Engineer ensures that all aspects of a system project are considered and addressed. The Systems Engineer works closely with stakeholders to understand their needs and then develops and documents technical requirements that meet those needs. 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. Once the system is deployed, the Systems Engineer manages the technical aspects of the system, including monitoring performance, troubleshooting problems, and making improvements.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate product or system requirements gathering and analysis with sponsors and other key stakeholders
• Verify systems engineering product life-cycle components to include definitions, requirements analysis, synthesis, systems analysis and implementation
• Conduct product or system design synthesis translating requirements into physical architectures for systems of moderate complexity to include defining and refining internal and external interfaces
• Develop and contribute to technical reports and diagrams detailing product or system attributes
• Analyze product or system functionality as defined by requirements

Additional Responsibilities

• Conduct top-down functional analysis and translate requirements into detailed performance design criteria
• Contribute to and develop technical reports and diagrams detailing product or system attributes
• Perform more complex experiments, calculations, and/or simulations to assess the performance of imaging systems for various sensing applications.
• Participate in business development efforts by leading development of white papers, competitive proposals, and proposing new research areas suitable for internal research and development (IRAD) funding

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Experience with systems engineering processes and methodologies applicable to complex systems
• Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas to non-technical audiences
• Understanding of requirements drivers for EO/IR systems and optical instruments
• Experience working with active and passive electro-optical systems including, but not limited to LIDARs, infrared imagers, hyperspectral imagers, polarimeters
• Experience with image and signal processing
• Ability to obtain and maintain DoD Secret Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Secret Clearance
• Familiarity with imaging systems and radiometry
• Experience working classified, DoD or DoE projects
• Active Security Clearance
• Experience with at least one optical design and M&S tools (e.g. Zemax, Code V, FRED, OSLO, TracePro, DIRSIG, etc.)
• Experience developing error budgets for optical performance

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

• 5-13+ years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineer, Optical Engineering, Optical Science, Imaging Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics
• 3-11+ years of related experience with a Masters’ degree in Systems Engineer, Optical Engineering, Optical Science, Imaging Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics
• 0-8+ years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Systems Engineer, Optical Engineering, Optical Science, Imaging Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics

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.