• Analysis, modelling and simulation, systems engineering, and technology development;

• Cybersecurity, information, communication, command and control, and software systems;

• Electromagnetics, materials, and device technology;

• Sensors, weapons, electronic warfare, and autonomous systems;

• Test and evaluation;

• Threat systems research and development

GTRI’s $1B per-year research program is organized into three major areas: Electronics, Optics and Systems; Information and Cyber Sciences; and Sensors and Intelligent Systems. In support of those areas, GTRI operates eight research laboratories and presence in over 20 locations around the country:

1. Advanced Concepts Laboratory

2. Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory

3. Applied Systems Laboratory

4. Cybersecurity, Information Protection, and Hardware Evaluation Research Laboratory

5. Elector-Optical Systems Laboratory

6. Electronic Systems Laboratory

7. Information and Communications Laboratory

8. Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory

GTRI is a Department of Defense (DOD) University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). GTRI develops advanced technology solutions and large-scale system prototypes to address the most difficult problems in national security, enhance economic development in Georgia, improve the overall human condition, and develop technology leaders. GTRI is the non-profit, applied research organization 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. In FY2023 GTRI had over $941M of problem-solving research awards from government and industry.

Each day, GTRI's science and engineering expertise is used to turn ideas into workable solutions for our customers. It takes the best ideas, some co-developed with their Georgia Tech academic partners, and turn them into systems applications that provide a significant technological advantage over other approaches.

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. As a non-profit research institute, GTRI is an objective partner who delivers workable solutions and manufacturable products. Its highly specialized laboratories and interdisciplinary research expertise allow GTRI to bring the right mix of talent, experience and creativity to our nation’s toughest challenges.

GTRI’s people are the foremost innovators creating a secure nation, a prosperous Georgia, and a sustainable world.

GTRI is the nonprofit, applied research organization of Georgia Tech. It is a designated University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) and leverages its science and engineering expertise, in collaboration with Georgia Tech, to enhance the impact of our collective research output. GTRI advances technology and provide innovative solutions in four mission areas to:

• Enhance State of Georgia economic development.

• Serve National Security.

• Improve the human condition.

• Educate future technology leaders.

GTRI’s top priority is its people. GTRI is committed to developing its staff, students, and research faculty as thought leaders. Successes are measured by the impact its people have in GTRI’s mission areas.

A thought leader is one whose views on a subject are respected and influential. They have a positive reputation for helping others with their knowledge and insight, and establish rich, meaningful relationships with those they are trying to reach. Everyone at GTRI has the potential to be a thought leader, whether they enable GTRI’s missions by being a thought leader in finance, IT, security, or operations; work within a team to deliver on a project; or work directly with our sponsors. GTRI’s people are its core, its differentiator, and its secret weapon. Prioritizing its people will ensure GTRI’s strategic success.

GTRI’s values align with the broader beliefs of Georgia Tech. They guide how GTRI addresses its top priority, reach its vision, and impact its mission areas.

GTRI enables and celebrates collaboration across disciplines and perspectives, between units and laboratories, and with other organizations at home and around the world. GTRI values the contributions of all members of its community, promotes civil and respectful discourse, and helps one another succeed.

GTRI sees diversity of backgrounds and perspectives as essential to learning, discovery, and creation. It strives to remove barriers of access and to build an inclusive community where people of all backgrounds have the opportunity to learn and contribute to GTRI’s mission.

GTRI holds one another to the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct. GTRI is transparent and accountable and strives to earn and maintain the public trust.

GTRI strives to be among the best at what it does and sets high expectations for individuals and for its community as a whole. The expectation of excellence, which is instrumental in GTRI’s ability to have a meaningful impact in the world, extends to its teaching, research and creative endeavors, outreach programs, and operations.

GTRI protects the freedom of all members of its community to ask questions, seek truth, and express any views. It cherishes diversity of ideas as necessary conditions for learning, discovery, scholarship, and creativity.

GTRI inspires, empowers, and provides the resources and environment for innovative ideas to flourish. New concepts and approaches that lead to creative ideas and solutions are welcomed.

GTRI is a careful steward of the resources it is entrusted with and strives to be an example of sustainability, efficiency, respect, and responsibility.

GTRI strives to build a healthy and vibrant environment that helps every member of its community to grow holistically and develop the self-awareness, knowledge, and practices necessary to pursue healthy, purposeful, and fulfilling lives.

See more at https://www.gtri.gatech.edu/about

GTRI, a $1B/year applied research unit of the Georgia Institute of Technology, is seeking a highly qualified individual for the position of Deputy Director of Research for the Sensors and Intelligent Systems Directorate (DDR, SISD).

SISD is an 800-person research unit focused on sponsored research, development, test, and evaluation of enabling technologies and high-end prototypes. This position is part of the GTRI executive team and reports to the Director of GTRI. The DDR for SISD will work with the CTO, the incumbent DDRs for EOSD and ICSD, and the rest of the executive team to identify and provide the greatest impact in meeting GTRI’s sponsor’s challenges while strategically managing technology development, strategy, and business growth.

The DDR, SISD will provide leadership and management for three research laboratories performing complementary work. The Advanced Concepts Laboratory (ACL) develops component, system, and operational solutions that anticipate and counter next-generation threats, with an emphasis on analyzing, simulating, modeling, and prototyping technologies that operate in the electromagnetic spectrum. The Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory (SEAL) develops advanced sensors, command and control, and electronic warfare (EW) components and systems from initial concepts through full system prototypes. The Aerospace, Transportation & Advanced Systems Laboratory (ATASL) develops advanced robotics, autonomy, and threat technologies and systems from concept development to prototypes. On-site work in these laboratories spans all levels of government security classifications.

The successful candidate will enhance GTRI’s culture and brand by focusing on developing our talented people. The DDR, SISD will also guide and manage workforce development including hiring and retention strategies, talent development, mentoring for technical and leadership skills, and cultivating a culture of respect, trust, and collaboration. Administratively, the DDR will manage operations to establish budgets, prioritize investments, and determine space needs for expansion. The individual will also establish relationships and work across campus with academic faculty and students in pursuit of innovative research opportunities, participate in internal operational and process improvement activities, and be active in outside organizations and events to promote and represent GTRI research. 

• Establish communication and trust across GTRI and Georgia Tech – transition smoothly into the organization and align to the objectives of GTRI.

• Retain, develop, recruit and hire a talented workforce through innovative, people focused initiatives.

• Initiate a long-term strategic roadmap towards the growth and development of the GTRI’s sensor research portfolio in accordance with GTRI’s overall strategic intent, including commercial engagement efforts for expansion beyond the existing research portfolio in Georgia.

• Understand the national security challenges and establish a robust structure to cater for the progressive growth in program in-takes, including strategies to secure resources, infrastructure management, processes, and policies/procedural development.

• Enhance collaboration amongst all the research labs to ensure excellence in delivery is achieved for more sizeable programs.

• Foster an open, innovative, and inclusive culture based on respect, trust, and collaboration within GTRI.

• A Bachelor’s degree and Master's degree with one or both in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field is a must. PhD is highly preferred.

• Must have a research background and possess at least 15 or more years of relevant experience in leading a large, diverse, engineering research organization focused on national security.

• A seasoned leader with proven track record of leading highly technical organizations with a broad range of experience working within or with the DoD and Intelligence Community.

• Strong technical background and leadership experience in national security research applications, including several of the following key areas around electromagnetic spectrum operations and intelligent systems: electronic warfare (EW), radar, antennas, electromagnetics, systems engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, acoustics, physical phenomenology, robotics, command and control, network communications, software and hardware development, and signal and data processing, etc.

• Proven track record of shaping policy or influencing national strategy implementation.

• Demonstrated experience in collaborating and working across organizational boundaries.

• US Citizenship and ability to obtain and sustain a TS/SCI security clearance required.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Engage with senior DoD and federal government leaders to provide thought leadership and help shape solutions to problems at a national scale.

• Assist the GTRI Director, in collaboration with other executive team members, in setting strategic direction for GTRI.

• Set strategic direction, aligned with overall GTRI strategy, for the Sensors and Intelligent Systems Directorate.

• Anticipate and identify emerging research areas and innovative technologies needed to further GTRI research directions.

• Work closely with the GTRI Director and other DDRs to meet strategic and financial goals, and

• Participate in planning, financial, operational, and employee development efforts as part of the executive team.

• Work with subordinate Lab Directors and other technical staff in the development of strategic plans, and to secure both internal and sponsor funding aligned with the strategic goals.

• Monitor progress of activities and budgets across external and internal projects.

• Facilitate and ensure collaboration between SISD and the other GTRI laboratories.

• Assure compliance of activities within SISD.

• Provide oversight for lab and directorate operating budgets.

• Work as a partner with Support Units and GT Research Security to enable research activities, remove obstacles, and provide budget resources to lab directors as required.

• Engage in collaborations both internal and external to GTRI. This includes collaborations with GT academic schools and units, other UARCS and FFRDCs, and industry.

• Identify and pursue opportunities to present ideas and research at public events, conferences, advisory boards, and think tank panel discussions.

• Assist in meetings with GT administration officials, members of Congress, their staff, and other relevant groups to present and discuss research findings and policy recommendations.

• Experience teaming with executive partners to develop corporate vision, strategy, and technical roadmaps.

• Experience and skills to hire, develop and retain a highly qualified team of leaders.

• Manage research portfolios to realize strategic goals.

• Enterprise collaboration with university research and academic colleagues.

• Build and manage strategic relationships and team collaboration to accomplish goals:

  - Strategies to understand, manage and take risk.

  - Set vision and catalyze the need for change.

  - Prioritize objectives and resources to meet strategic goals.

•  Promote excellence at all levels of the organization:

  - Value and foster a culture of innovation, inclusivity, transparency, and accountability.

  - Empower and equip individuals and teams to succeed.

  - Professionally develop leaders.

• Accountability up and down the management chain, acting responsibly and ensuring employees are behaving professionally and ethically, accept responsibility and ownership for one's actions.

• Ability to set a vision for program/product development, identify and develop internal and external talent to build a high functioning team, and motivate the team to deliver high impact solutions to national security EMSO challenges.

• Oversight of a broad research portfolio focused on innovative research and development for national security.

• The SISD portfolio emphasizes sensors, networks of sensors, and autonomous systems; further, it encompasses underlying enabling technologies as applied to a wide variety of specific sponsor challenges involving system engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, radar, antennas, electromagnetics, electronic warfare, threat systems and live-virtual-constructive test and training environments, software and hardware development, and signal and data processing.

• Implementation of these topics span the continuum from physics-based models and complex simulations to component technologies, to representative prototypes and specialized fielded systems.

• Management of a large research workforce in a complex organization.

- 100 people and/or over 5 subordinate units (Context: this position will guide three labs comprised of over 900 research and staff and over 25 divisions and field sites).

• Manage a portfolio of current products and new products in development aligned with current and future national security challenges. Relevant technical experience includes electromagnetic spectrum operations, including modelling and simulation, prototyping, and system integration with a focus on novel technology development. Focus areas are the following:

  - Radar, antennae, electronic warfare, materials, physical phenomenology

  - Threat systems, test and evaluation, and national range innovation and development including live-virtual-constructive environments

  - Aerospace systems, autonomy, and modelling and simulation.

• Experience working with the Defense Department

• Experience working with Federal Government:

  - Understanding of: federal government structures, roles, responsibilities and authorities; government funding and contracting; federal research, development, test and evaluation.

  - Familiarity with Defense Department and Intelligence Community executive leadership.

  - Current knowledge and awareness of the Department of Defense modernization and restructuring efforts, including the Air Force re-optimization efforts.

• Effectively conveying information, ideas, and thoughts in a meaningful and understandable way both up and down the supervisory chain.

• Experience in collaborating and working across organizational boundaries.

• Facilitate and ensure collaboration across GTRI research labs, support units, and GT academic units.

• Strategies to hire, develop and retain a highly qualified and inclusive team of leaders.

• Develop and promote a culture of inclusion and a community with a shared sense of belonging.

• Champion a people-first workplace with a focus on agility, diversity, innovation and impact.

• Tools and experience to create a people-first culture.

• Develop relationships with key government leaders to understand challenges and trends.

• Anticipate, identify, and develop emerging research areas and innovative technologies needed to further GTRI research strategies and develop business and project funding aligned with GTRI strategic plans.

• Experience with the FFRDC/UARC business model and demonstrated ability to successfully develop sponsored relationships within that construct.

• Compliance as a competency is acting in accord with rules, policies, procedures and the law.

• In decision making, applying a moral set of principles and applying them responsibly while taking into account the impact of legal, economic, and social consequences.

• Ability to apply the right measures to control and manage recognized risk in day-to-day job-related activities.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Jason Kim at Jason.Kim@Kornferry.com or Vinna Tsang at Vinna.Tsang@Kornferry.com. 

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis.