Branch Head-Electronic Systems Architect - Open Rank (Senior Level) - ATAS

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 Unmanned Systems Integration Branch focuses on the development, integration, testing, and evaluation of unmanned systems across multiple domains. Systems engineering expertise is applied to sensors, platforms, and embedded systems, with a focus on Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) as well as systems in other domains (e.g. ground, sea). Program areas include sUAS, Counter UAS systems, and Autonomy Algorithms. Typically, the Unmanned Systems Integration Branch integrates sensors, autopilots, and mission processors into low cost commercially available surrogate platforms for demonstration purposes. Primary sponsors are from the US military research and development community.

Lead multiple sponsored research projects. Manage Branch (7-15 FTE) administrative activities including hiring, appraisals and sponsored project success.

• Recognized SME in technical domain. Lead and/or contribute to white papers and proposals
• Seek out and respond to opportunities for new research
• Support presentations and travel to support new business development
• Ensure that the branch is continuing to pursue new and novel research efforts through judicious use of internal R&D funding
• Lead branch hiring activities including development of position vacancy announcements, resume reviews, interviews and onboarding
• Determine branch hiring needs
• Lead role on manpower planning for branch personnel
• Conduct staff appraisals
• Support Monthly Project Status Review meetings
• Coordinate with division leadership as required
• Lead branch hiring activities including development of position vacancy announcements, resume reviews, interviews and onboarding
• Determine branch hiring needs
• Lead role on manpower planning for branch personnel
• Conduct staff appraisals
• Support Monthly Project Status Review meetings.
• Coordinate with division leadership as required

The Systems Integration branch chief is expected to prepare and manage branch budgets, oversee expenditures, recruit qualified personnel, and maintain personnel proficiency, training, and qualification. They are responsible for managing relations with all autonomous systems stakeholders including support for interactions with external sponsors. Program development and program management is required to develop and manage programs in the aforementioned technical areas including performance evaluation and testing. The responsibilities of the branch chief are shared with the associate branch chief and split between the management of the branch to include development of junior research faculty into project leaders, conducting performance appraisals, actively developing sponsor relationships, and executing research programs. This position is expected to consume approximately 30%-50% time. The remaining time is anticipated to come from sponsored research. The branch is located in Smyrna, GA on the Georgia Tech Cobb County Research Facility (CCRF). Travel is required in conducting GTRI research, developing business, meeting with customers and demonstrating applied solutions.

This is a senior level management position requiring substantial experience in managing avionics and payload integration, UAV prototype development, test operations, personnel management, and program management.

• Participate in all steps of the project life cycle, to include design concepts and preliminary designs, scheduling, specifications, cost estimates, drawings, construction and final detailed designs as it relates to unmanned systems.
• Generate documentation (i.e. system diagrams, build of materials, wiring diagrams, etc...) that will allow technicians to assemble system components and harnesses.
• Coordinate fabrication and assembly of unmanned systems and the purchase of required materials and components.
• Perform integration and configuration of controls, sensors and payloads in unmanned systems.
• Use creative hardware and software solutions to overcome system integration challenges.
• Develop and execute test plans to validate proper system functionality.
• Debug electrical, mechanical and software issues across a range of components and interfaces using standard lab test equipment and software.
• Set up and conduct experiments; prepare progress and test reports.
• Follow designs into the field and participate in field testing; analyze flight data; diagnose system misbehaviors and devise solutions
• Present complex technical material in reports, manuals, white papers and presentations, in a clear and concise manner.
• Collaborate with engineers of other disciplines to develop best-in-class solutions.

Reporting and Administration:

Monthly reporting to the Division Chief on status of sponsored programs that branch staff are tasked to. May require coordination/syncing with other branches.

Monthly reporting on business development (BD) efforts taking place within the branch (or in concert with other branches/labs).

Actively track staffing of direct reports and staffing availability.

Timesheet monitoring (e.g. signing, correcting, and editing as needed).

Engagement:

Hold branch meetings with assigned research faculty (at least biweekly).

Level and Rank promotion tracking - monitoring each branch staff to know where they sit within the band of being eligible for level or rank promotion and updating relevant inputs for lab leadership when called upon.

Meet with assigned branch research faculty/staff at least 6 times per year (not including annual performance appraisal), 30-60 minutes.
Assess skillsets of branch staff, identifying areas of technical and professional growth and providing avenues for that growth (or communicating needs to division leadership).

Coordinate with Division Chief on relationship(s) within sHRp and the lab HRC.

Manage hiring of new research faculty/staff
Work with sHRp recruiting staff to generate PVAs and vet candidates.

Set up hiring committees and establish a standard interview process including a 1st level technical interview and a 2nd level interview.

Addressing impromptu employee concerns (e.g. salary and level promotion).

Participate in leadership coaching/training when made available.

Recognition:

Proactively generate opportunities to recognize outstanding performance by direct reports (e.g. bi-monthly submission of Star Performance Appraisal nominations to the Division Chief).
Tracking employees' years of service, highlighting them when applicable.
Annual tracking of employees' eligibility for Level and Rank Promotion.

• Extensive experience in electronic circuit design and integration and/or mechanical design and fabrication.
• Extensive experience in use of commercial and open-source autopilot systems
• Comprehensive management skills are required
• Must be able to plan budgets and manage expenditures, make task assignments to branch personnel and monitor progress, and manage personnel issues and ensure personnel are qualified and proficient
• Must be familiar with Microsoft Project for program planning and management and be familiar with GTRI procurement and cost reporting services
• Leadership skills are essential as are presentation skills for meetings with stakeholders and external sponsors
• Ability to document system designs is also required
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret Security Clearance

• Active Top Secret Clearance
• Master's Degree or Ph.D. and 5+ years of experience in performing UAV design and prototyping, and payload integration
• Familiarity with communications, mission computers, sensors and electronic warfare systems that may be used as payloads on UAVs is highly desired
• Familiarity with propulsion systems, including battery chemistry and power systems

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

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

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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