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 Applied Systems Laboratory (ASL) is currently seeking an Embedded Software/Firmware Engineer for a full-time research faculty position. As a team member, you will develop a next generation communications architecture that addresses legacy replacement and next generation radio integration, leveraging software defined radios and modular open system approaches. This project supports a cross-functional integrated product team (IPT) which performs prototyping, system demonstrations, and proof of concepts for systems to help the Joint Forces.

The position requires being within the local commuting distance of either Huntsville, AL or Smyrna, GA.

Job Purpose

The Embedded Software/Firmware Engineer is responsible for developing algorithms and code for real-time signal processing to include communication and data transfer between system level hardware and embedded hardware. The Embedded Software/Firmware Engineer develops designs based on embedded firmware systems, such as Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), microcontrollers/computers, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits/systems (ASICs), and or Graphics Processor Units (GPUs). These designs also require development of documentation to support future reviews of design and enhancements. This position requires extensive knowledge of development environments for Xilinx and Altera (Intel) technologies, software development and configuration skills, and computer operating systems. The Embedded Software/Firmware Engineer applies engineering principles to firmware software creation and implementation of real-time hardware interface firmware and analysis, debugging, and testing of these systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, test, and develop software packages to meet requirements and open system standards.
• Develop and maintain software and scripts to support embedded software development and processes.
• Supervise student developers.
• Follow embedded software development processes and verify managed developers are following embedded development processes.
• Contribute to research reports, white papers, and competitive proposals.

Additional Responsibilities

• Help lead the Joint Forces with defining and implementing an open architecture and standard solutions for the joint service tactical waveform community.
• Design architecture and implement solutions on software defined radios and digital radioheads.
• Reverse engineer existing RF signal processing solutions and tactical waveform applications to integrate with MORA SDR solutions.
• Integrate tactical waveform solutions in GNU Radio, REDHAWK, PHOTON, MORA, or X-MIDAS frameworks.
• Development of digital signal processing algorithms across heterogeneous hardware platforms (CPUs, GPUs, DSPs, FPGAs, etc.) for SDR systems.
• Test and evaluation engineering of RF systems.
• Software development RF signal collection and analysis.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and standards for use in SDR systems.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• 2+ years prior experience after completion of a bachelor's degree in a relevant technical field.
• Experience in embedded engineering for hardware, software, and firmware development and structured approaches to system development.
• Strong coordination, organization, teaming, and communication abilities.
• Works well individually and in a group setting.
• Proficiency in technical writing and oral communications skills and proven ability to work with and communicate with project team members, customers, and Military representatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Secret Clearance.
• Completion of a master's level degree in a relevant technical field.
• Software Defined Radio and Digital Radiohead experience.
• Experience with RF system concepts and components including antenna technology.
• Experience with Software Defined Radios (SDR).
• Experience with waveform fundamentals and/or definitions.
• Experience with various wideband data link waveforms like Bandwidth Efficient CDL and standard CDL.
• Knowledge of networking protocols and their application.
• Ability to develop software and/or simulations of interfaces using either MATLAB/EMANE/ Octave/Python/C++ or other method(s).
• FPGA development experience (VHDL).
• GPGPU development experience (e.g. CUDA/OpenCL).
• Familiarity with VITA 49.2 or Modular Open Radio Frequency Architecture (MORA).
• Familiarity with OMS/UCI or VICTORY MOSA Standards.
• Familiarity with architecture development in utilizing UML/SysML.
• Familiarity with MBSE (e.g. Cameo Enterprise Architecture, UAF, UPDM).
• Familiarity with security features (e.g. red/black, encryption, MLS) associated with RF communication systems.
• Experience working with the U.S. government, including the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community.

Travel Requirements

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

• 2 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or any related technical field.
• 0 years of related experience with a Masters’ degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or any related technical field.

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://hr.gatech.edu/benefits

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.

All members of the USG community must adhere to the USG Statement of Core Values, which consists of Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values shape and fundamentally support our university's work. Additionally, all faculty, staff, and administrators must also be aware of and comply with the Board of Regents and Georgia Institute of Technology's policies on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom. More information on these policies can be found here: Board of Regents Policy Manual | University System of Georgia (usg.edu).