Division Chief Scientist (Avionics Engineer) - ASL - Open Rank

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.

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The Applied Systems Lab (ASL) Autonomy Technology Transition Division (ATTD) is currently seeking a Chief Scientist for a full-time research faculty position. ATTD conducts research supporting sponsors across the Department of Defense and focuses on autonomous uncrewed aircraft programs. Expertise includes autonomous systems, systems engineering, avionics engineering, embedded software development, test and evaluation, and hardware- and software-in-the-loop development and test environment and laboratories.

The Division Chief Scientist helps direct and oversees the division's internal research and development (IRAD) program. The division chief scientist ensures IRAD activities will maintain and grow the division's competitive position by: formulating and executing key elements of the division's strategy, working closely with researchers and unit leads in the alignment of IRAD with other investments and awards, developing collaborations across other labs (Division Chief Scientists in particular), representing the division's opportunities and challenges through reporting to the Lab Chief Scientist, and connecting with the broader research and sponsor community.

This Division Chief Scientist position comes with a Technical Working Title of Avionics Engineer.

The Avionics Engineer defines and designs military avionic systems and systems-of-systems. Specifically, the Avionics Engineer develops integrated system-level designs, and hardware and software subsystems designs. These designs are associated to avionic functions such as navigation, tactical data links, electronic warfare, defensive countermeasures, intelligence, and integrated system functions like data fusion and resource management. These design efforts include integrating the avionics systems within the aircraft, aircraft-to-aircraft, and aircraft-to-ground systems The Avionics Engineer applies knowledge specific to aircraft such as safety (e.g. FAA standards), security, robustness, and performance. Additionally, the Avionics Engineer analyzes laboratory and flight test data for functionality and performance. The Avionics Engineer also provides expertise and technical leadership to programs and sponsors to achieve overall goals through the full development life cycle (i.e., requirements development to final delivery). Tools and methodologies used by the Avionics Engineer includes Model Based System Engineering, laboratory analysis hardware, software development environments, and Agile methodologies.

Division Chief Scientist:

• Formulate strategic direction and plans for ATTD Internal Research and Development (IRAD) Programs.
• Support the ATTD Division Chief with oversight of ATTD IRAD portfolio including the development of concepts, financial oversight, and technical oversight.
• Work with ATTD researchers and researchers across GTRI to develop Strategic Initiative IRAD concepts with potential for high impact to GTRI and the nation.
• Participate in ASL Chief Scientist Council meetings, including technical reviews, strategy sessions, administrative discussions, and management planning.
• Form strategic relationships with key subject matter experts across ASL and from other laboratories.
• Support the ATTD Division Chief in the formation of division direction and strategy including managing strategy tool inputs, coordinating sponsor-engagement opportunities, and proposal strategy/review/bid decisions.
• Support the ATTD Division Chief with Modernization/Equipment requests, and business development fund requests.
• Develop and sustain strategic relationships with peer leaders across GTRI and Georgia Tech Resident Instruction, to include research partnerships.
• Perform other duties as required.

Avionics Engineer:

• Manage all technical aspects of product or system design including directing multiple lab resources for large scale product or system deployments.
• Manage sub-contractor resources supporting all system engineering areas (e.g., definition, requirements analysis, synthesis, systems analysis, and implementation).
• Conduct product or system design synthesis, translating requirements into physical architectures for systems of high complexity.
• Define/refine internal and external system interfaces.
• Support development of product strategy and execution.
• Develop and review technical reports, specifications, test plans, memos, and diagrams detailing product or system attributes.
• Lead medium-to-large project tasks and/or small programs and provide technical status and plans to Project Director.
• Serve as a resource and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for avionics engineering tools and technologies.
• Significantly contribute to whitepapers and proposals.

• Experience with IRAD relating to proposal, execution, and/or leadership capacity.
• Experience leading sponsored research projects and sponsor interactions.
• Experience facilitating dialogue, collaboration, and partnerships among research personnel, government, and industry stakeholders.

• Active Secret Clearance.
• Experience managing and providing technical leadership for complex, high-value engineering programs.
• Experience with systems design including architectures, requirements, behavior allocation, and interface design for autonomous systems.
• Experience with business development, including concept development, engagement strategy, technical briefs, and proposal development.
• Experience with developing and fielding autonomous systems or solutions.
• Experience developing/designing complex, software-intensive military unmanned air systems (UAS) using system engineering processes and methodologies.
• Experience developing autonomous unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/UAV).
• Experience with avionic data buses (e.g., MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, Ethernet, RS-422, etc.), tactical data links (e.g., Link-16), military radios, and open systems architecture frameworks (e.g., FACE and OMS/UCI).

• 10% - 25% travel.

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

• 9-14 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 7-12 years of related experience with a Masters' degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 4-9 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related field.

Due to our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be U.S. Citizens.

Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain an active security clearance.

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/.

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