Minimum Compensation
$112,176 Maximum Compensation $150,675
Project/Unit Description
GTRI is searching for a Hardware Engineer to work in the Assessments Branch within the Embedded System Vulnerability Division (ESVD) in the Cybersecurity, Information Protection, and Hardware Evaluation Research (CIPHER) Lab. The Hardware Engineer will join an established team of experts in the reverse engineering and characterization of battlefield electronic systems.
Job Purpose
The Hardware Engineer will characterize mixed-signal designs including analog, RF and digital portions for Electronic Warfare, Radar, Avionics, and Communication Systems. Specific activities include RF and analog characterization using system, circuit or board design and simulation tools; development and test of digital systems (including high-speed digital buses and FPGAs) via circuit simulation, schematic capture, board layout and assembly design; bring-up, test and debug of the hardware utilizing test equipment such as network analyzers and spectrum analyzers; and integration with other system components. Additional activities include analysis of system performance, improvement analysis, test process and procedure design and collaboration with other engineering teams
Key Responsibilities
- Perform circuit simulation, schematic capture, and board layout for submodules of a platform design
- Generate documentation of hardware Design and theory of operation.
- Perform lab testing activities
- Integrate modules with other system components
- Significant contributions to technical reports and presentations
- Begin to take ownership of small team development, mentoring others
- Significant contributions to white papers, and competitive proposals
Additional Responsibilities
- Design and/or testing of embedded circuit boards
- Testing of electronic systems using spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, etc.
Required Minimum Qualifications
- Experience in hardware and circuit design of electronic systems
- Test and instrumentation experience including soldering, use of spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, or JTAG debugging tools, etc.
- Experience developing and building custom interfaces to support electronics testing
- Experience with hardware debugging or reverse engineering, particularly of embedded devices
- Ability to develop and maintain system-level documentation, to include technical reports, design documentation and diagrams, and test plans
- Interest in solving puzzles and a curiosity to determine how things work
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Active Secret Clearance
- Understanding of RF systems (e.g. antennas, amplifiers, RF circuits, analog circuits, A/D & D/A converters)
- Knowledge of radio architectures including radio topics such as PA compression, intermodulation, phase noise, harmonics, LO leakage, etc.
- Experience in radio design/trouble-shooting
- Understanding of RF propagation, and communication waveform characteristics including various modulation/demodulation techniques such as AM, FM, ASK, PSK, FSK, QAM, etc.
- Experience with performance characterization and testing of RF communications systems
- Experience with design and/or performance testing of frequency hop communications systems
- Experience working with a variety of communication systems such as HF, VHF, microwave, SATCOM, etc. Experience with military systems is preferred.
- Experience with RF countermeasure testing against threat communication systems
- Background in digital communication theory to include modulation/demodulation, error correction coding, synchronization methods, and/or network management strategies
- Experience with the use and development of algorithms for software defined radios. Example platforms/packages include X-MIDAS, GNU Radio, Ettus SDR, Redhawk, Matlab
- Knowledge of networking protocols
- Experience with on-board communication interfaces such JTAG, SPI, UART, and SWD
- Experience with design and/or testing of embedded circuit boards, particularly for communications systems
- Experience operating a CT X-RAY machine and presenting computerized tomography (CT) X-ray scan results of electronic systems
- Analysis of multi-layer printed circuit boards (PCBs) using computerized tomography (CT) X-ray scans
- Prior RF lab environment experience with experience using assorted test equipment
- Experience working with the US 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
- 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or related field
- 3 years of related experience with a Masters’ degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or related field
- 0 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or related 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
Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) at Georgia Tech Research Institute aims to enhance the Institute’s mission of solving the world’s most complex technical problems by creating a workforce with a shared appreciation for diversity, raising awareness around inclusiveness, and fostering a sense of belonging and appreciation for all members of our community.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Georgia Tech Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans and actively seeks diversity among its employees. Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law .
Posted: 06/22/2023
Closes: 09/20/2023