Electrical Engineer

About the Role

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is seeking an early-career Electrical Engineer for the Photonics and Microelectronics Division (PMD) within the Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL). This role involves supporting multiple projects, conducting laboratory experiments, modeling data, and building hardware. The division focuses on advanced research and development in areas such as photonic/RF/fiber optic subsystems, photonic integrated circuits, RF/millimeter-wave devices, advanced materials, and spacecraft hardware, primarily for aerospace and national security applications.

Job Purpose

The Electrical Engineer will design, develop, and test electronic circuits. Responsibilities include utilizing electrical circuit design and analysis tools for layout and modeling, guiding assembly, test, and integration of circuits, testing and diagnosing malfunctions in existing hardware, and researching component/material specifications and manufacturing methods.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop electronic circuits and assemblies under supervision to meet task requirements.
• Test and troubleshoot circuits for operational readiness.
• Generate documentation of hardware design and theory of operation.

Additional Responsibilities

• Conduct benchtop experiments in the optics laboratory using free-space & fiber optics, lasers, modulators, amplifiers, and common integrated circuits.
• Build and characterize RF subsystems with discrete components, common ICs, and apertures.
• Integrate GTRI custom sensors and subsystems into UAS, pods, and aircraft.
• Integrate off-the-shelf devices such as radars, communication systems, lidars, and lasers into functional systems and onto platforms.
• Design custom electronic circuits and circuit boards for project needs.
• Assemble and test hardware for cubesats, including vacuum and cryogenic systems.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• MATLAB or Python programming skills.
• Skills in automation, interfacing computers with instruments and sensors for control/data collection.
• Enjoyment of careful, hands-on lab work.
• Experience performing basic electrical, RF, and optical tests using equipment such as spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, oscilloscopes, power meters, and signal generators & analyzers.
• Familiarity with semiconductor devices, theory of operation, and applications.
• Familiarity with principles of operation and understanding of specifications for common electronic and optical devices such as radar, lidar, radio & fiber optic comms links, and lasers.
• Ability to design custom electronic circuits and circuit boards with advice and supervision.
• Strong sense of curiosity and flexibility to contribute to different project types.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Security Clearance.

Qualifications

• Candidates currently enrolled in an accredited degree program relevant to this position will be considered. Graduation date must be no later than May 2027.
• B.S. degree in electrical engineering, applied physics, or microelectronics.
• Laboratory and computer skills as demonstrated in independent undergrad projects, graduate thesis research, or laboratory internships.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Secret Clearance.
• Ability to design custom electronic circuits and circuit boards independently.
• Demonstrated design skills in optical and RF systems, and digital or analog electronics from coursework and project experience.
• Experience and expertise in direct detection and coherent optical communications.
• Expertise and experience with acoustic sensing using fiber optics.
• Detailed knowledge and experience with one or more common electronic and optical devices such as radar, lidar, radio & fiber optic comms links, lasers, CCDs, imagers, focal plane arrays.
• Strong knowledge of radio frequency engineering, circuit concepts, microfabrication techniques, or device physics.
• Experience building subsystems with analog RF ICs, digital ICs, and/or photonic ICs.
• Working knowledge of microcontrollers & FPGAs and their integration into subsystems.
• Characterization and test of bare die in a probe station, load pull measurements.
• Basic mechanical engineering or materials science courses.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas to a non-technical audience.

U.S. Citizenship Requirements

• Candidates must be U.S. Citizens due to research contracts with the U.S. federal government.

Clearance Type Required

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

Travel Requirements

• <10% travel.