Applied Physicist - Open Rank (Junior-Mid Level)-EOSL-Onsite

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 Self Protection Systems Branch is part of the Electromagnetic Warfare and Survivability Modeling and Simulation (EWSMS) Division under GTRI’s Electro-Optical Systems Lab (EOSL).
• The Self Protection Systems Branch conducts analysis of system-level self-protection capabilities, including high fidelity modeling of threat capabilities as well as prediction of flare, jammer, and other countermeasure performance.
• Capabilities include:
  • The development, optimization, and effectiveness evaluation of IR and RF countermeasures and how they are employed
  • IR signature testing, measurement, and modeling
  • Thought leadership in the EO/IR community, including EO/IR training, education, and government white hat functions
• EWSMS provides modeling, simulation, and analysis of platform and system effectiveness and survivability in one-on-one, few-on-few, and many-on-many scenarios, as well as comprehensive kill chain analysis.

Job Purpose

• An applied physicist leverages knowledge and skills from the fields of physics, chemistry, material science, and mathematics to contribute to the research, analysis, design, and development of innovative systems, sensors, materials, and devices.
• They design and conduct experiments and/or simulations to ascertain physical properties and behaviors.
• Experiments conducted may involve the measurement, characterization, and testing of equipment and environmental phenomenology using specialized tools.
• Fundamental physical principles are used to inform the design of systems and sensors, to evaluate their theoretical performance, and to develop algorithms.
• Areas of application may include: optical systems, energy systems and storage, quantum systems, EO/IR & RF M&S and analysis, and photonics, and new materials.
• An applied physicist might also contribute to the development and application of new materials related to energy production, harvesting, and storage or to areas as diverse as healthcare, entertainment, or national security.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform more complex tests, experiments, calculations, and/or simulations to determine physical parameters/properties and behaviors of materials and systems and conduct more complex data analysis on the results of measurements and/or simulations
• Lead design of experiments for simple experiments -Generate documentation of experiments and results
• Contribute to white papers and proposals
• Contribute to technical reports/presentations of project result

Additional Responsibilities

• Develop physics-based models of EO/IR and RF systems and countermeasures to evaluate and optimize their effectiveness in operational scenarios
• Develop and optimize detailed mathematical models representing missiles and other threats, aircraft, vehicle, and threat signatures, EO/IR atmospheric propagation, sensor optics, and detectors
• Create simulations and algorithm optimizations to support military threat warning systems
• Interface with high performance computing cluster to execute large-scale simulation analysis
• Run simulations and algorithm optimizations
• Collaborate with project team members and project sponsors to specify technical requirements, schedules, and program risk analysis
• Assist in the design, development, and demonstration of EW simulation experiments
• Travel to sponsor locations to support meetings and attend test events
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline
• Workplace experience with version control systems (Eg. Git)
• Strong programming skills in Python, C/C++, or Matlab
• Experience with Linux and open-source tools
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI Clearance
• A Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline
• A proven track record in engaging current and potential sponsors for contract development, including writing competitive proposals and white papers
• Experience in modeling, simulation, optimization, and testing of EO/IR aircraft survivability and sensing equipment, including missile warning systems, IR search and track systems, and expendable and laser countermeasures
• Experience with modeling, simulation, and analysis of RF systems including RF sensors and expendables
• Detailed knowledge of and experience using industry and/or government standard M&S tools including GTSIMS, ESAMS, TMAP, MOSAIC, ITASE, MODTRAN, AFSIM, Xpatch, FLITES, etc
• Expertise in IR and RF surface-to-air and air-to-air threat systems
• Experience leading technical teams related to modeling and simulation or software development
• Experience in the fields of remote sensing, machine learning, or computer vision

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

• 2-13+ years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline
• 0-11+ years of related experience with a Masters’ degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline
• 0-8+ years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline

Please refer to our Research Faculty Technical Level Guidelines for minimum requirements at the higher levels.

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 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.

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.