Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Engineer - GTRI - ICL

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.

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The Information and Communications Laboratory (ICL) Communications Systems and Spectrum Division (CSSD) Advanced Communication System Branch (ACSB) is looking for a mid-level 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. The Division supports work across many branches of the Federal Government. 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 focuses on early-stage research from applied research to laboratory and field demonstrations to deployed prototype systems. The ideal candidate will be an inquisitive and resourceful researcher with FPGA development and an interest in signal processing, mathematics, and technical algorithms that can be applied to communication systems and spectrum sensing.

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.

• Perform firmware development using a Hardware Description Language (VHDL, Verilog)
• Author complex FPGA and/or SoC solutions that achieve unique capabilities
• Translate high-level functional or subsystem requirements into FPGA or SoC functionality
• Demonstrate mastery of technical standards, principles, theories, concepts and techniques.
• Manage FPGA projects across the full design cycle: design, simulation, synthesis, implementation, and verification
• Begin to take ownership of small team development, allocating tasking and/or mentoring others
• Provide significant contributions to technical reports, presentations, white papers, and competitive proposals

• Support the design, development, and implementation of a wide variety of functionality and algorithms in programmable hardware using the latest high-speed/high-density FPGAs and System-on-Chips (SoC) including high bandwidth data collection, digital signal processing, data manipulation, custom interfaces, and SoC processor interaction
• Analyze system and functional requirements to design, develop, and validate firmware for very high-speed integrated circuits using a Hardware Description Language (VHDL, Verilog)
• Analyze interface requirements and implementation to data converter chips
• Model and simulate implemented designs in a test bench environment for validation purposes
• Support adaptive algorithm implementation and 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

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related field of study and three (3) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of that degree
• Experience in implementing algorithms in AMD/Xilinx SoC/FPGAs using Vivado
• Background in communications, spectrum sensing, electromagnetics, signal processing, machine learning/artificial intelligence, or applied mathematics
• 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

• Existing U.S. security clearance
• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related field of study
• Demonstrated experience in communications, spectrum sensing, electromagnetics, signal processing, machine learning/artificial intelligence, or applied mathematics
• Experience with System Generator, Matlab, Simulink
• Experience with SoC device tree generation, FPGA timing constraints, etc.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Experience programming in MATLAB
• Expertise in signal processing, electromagnetics, modeling & simulation, machine learning, image, or control theory

10% - 25% travel

Levels 3+4

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, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field
• 3 years of related experience with a Masters' degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field
• 0 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field

Due to our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be U.S. Citizens.

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

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/.

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