Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Engineer - ICL

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

Students are our top priority.
We strive for excellence.
We thrive on diversity.
We celebrate collaboration.
We champion innovation.
We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.
We nurture the wellbeing of our community.
We act ethically.
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 Information and Communications Laboratory (ICL) Communications Systems and Spectrum Division (CSSD) is looking for FPGA Engineer to support the research and development of innovative solutions for communications and spectrum sensing systems and is looking for a dynamic and challenging work environment. The Division's projects focus on advanced signal processing, adaptive communications technologies, advanced algorithms, and artificial intelligence and machine learning applied to communications, spectrum sensing, electronic warfare, and next generation cellular network technologies. Key research areas include future generations of adaptive communication systems, intelligent spectrum sensing systems, adaptive and learning algorithms, advanced waveforms for communications and sensing, and physics-based propagation modeling.

The Division supports work across many branches of the Department of War (DoW), including the Army, Navy, and Office of the Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. Programs span the range from applied research through prototype developments that are fielded for experimentation and capability demonstrations.

The ideal candidate will be an inquisitive and resourceful researcher with embedded software skills and an interest in signal processing, mathematics, and technical algorithms that can be applied to communication systems and spectrum sensing. Candidates should have a strong desire to collaborate with other team members while designing, implementing, testing and fielding innovative communications platforms to provide solutions for communications and spectrum sensing problems of interest to the DoW. As a researcher, the candidate will develop innovative concepts to investigate, advance, and create understanding of emerging problems and solution opportunities in communications technology and applications domains.

Job Purpose

The Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Engineer supports the design, development, and implementation of complex firmware components in programmable hardware using the latest high-speed/high-density FPGAs and System-on-Chips (SoC) technologies. The FPGA Engineer is responsible for developing novel firmware algorithms into solutions that encompass high-speed digital logic design, real-time digital signal processing, custom interface development, system security, and other sponsor application areas. The FPGA Engineer is typically proficient in Hardware Description Languages (e.g. VHDL, Verilog) and/or High-Level Synthesis toolchains. The FPGA Engineer’s responsibilities typically include requirements capture, trade-space analysis, design, simulation, deployment, verification, and documentation of programmable logic solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Develop FPGA solutions using Hardware Description Languages (e.g. VHDL, Verilog) and/or High-Level Synthesis languages.
Support program teams through individual technical tasking to achieve project milestones
Support testbench development, simulation, and integration of system components
Support equipment validation in a laboratory setting
Contribute to technical reports and presentations
Additional Responsibilities
Participate in the execution of projects, including attending technical meetings, completing assigned technical tasks, collaborating with colleagues, and presenting their research to the technical team and team leads.
Tasking will be assigned to leverage and expand the existing skills of the candidate, including system and application architecture and design, software/VHDL development and test, and system analysis
Contribute to the development of innovative concepts and programs of research to investigate, advance, and create understanding of emerging problems and solution opportunities in communications technology, systems, and applications domains
Investigate, develop, and document technology approaches and solutions that produce valuable objective findings and outcomes for internal and sponsored research programs
Recognize, communicate, and report on objective findings and their implications and value.
Conduct solution and system design synthesis translating objectives into requirements, and requirements into physical architectures and solutions for systems of high complexity
Work with team members to develop AI/ML methods for controlling and optimizing the performance of communications and sensing systems
Develop expertise in software development, FGPA engineering, infrastructure, techniques, and tools
Support development of technical reports/presentations for projects of moderate/high complexity
Contribute to white papers and proposals with supporting background or data analysis
Contribute to technical reports/presentations of projects, journal articles, and conference presentations

Required Minimum Qualifications

Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or related field
Candidates currently enrolled in an accredited degree program relevant to this position will be considered.
The candidate must have a graduation date of no later than Dec 2026.
The candidate should be familiar with software development concepts such as source control, agile development, and good coding practices
Experience developing on embedded platforms and/or FPGAs
Experience with other software programming languages such as C, C++, and Python
Experience using GIT or another distributed version control systems
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to work individually and as part of a team
Ability to work in a research environment where there are many unknowns and undiscovered paths
Ability to operate effectively, maintain productivity, and make well-reasoned decisions despite incomplete information and requirements, while elucidating objectives and target outcomes
Ability to be granted Secret Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

Active Secret Clearance
2 years experience or more of relevant professional experience
MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or related field
Experience in developing advanced communication systems, implementing or designing waveforms, and integrating communication implementations on SDR platforms
Strong background in electromagnetics, signal processing, mathematics, machine learning / artificial intelligence, or scientific algorithm development
Experience with electronic warfare threat systems
Experience with Linux operating systems
Experience with cellular communications systems, technologies, and specifications, including ORAN
Experience with SOSA and/or CMOSS open architectures and platforms
Demonstrated recent experience in applied research and development

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

0 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or other related science or engineering fields

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 Institute 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 Institute 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.

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia (“USG”) and Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of an individual’s race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. 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.
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