Branch Head - Open Rank - EOSL

Georgia Tech Research Institute; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Welfare

Retirement Plans

Tuition Reimbursement

Time Off

Professional Development

Job summary

Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) in Atlanta seeks a senior leader to head the PED Branch within the Electro-Optical Infrared Systems Division. You will oversee software and algorithm development across optical systems, manage sponsored research programs, and guide personnel through hiring, evaluations, and development.

A DoW clearance is required. The role emphasizes strategic planning, program growth, and collaboration with DoW sponsors, labs, and management to deliver high-impact

Qualifications

• 3+ years in software engineering, algorithm development, AI/ML, image processing, data visualization, data fusion, or related fields.
• 3+ years leading technical programs in a project management or technical leadership role.
• 3+ years of sponsor engagement or business development activities.
• 3+ years writing white papers and/or proposals.
• 3+ years delivering technical presentations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoW Secret Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes plans for growth and sustainment of the PED Branch to align with EISD, EOSL, and GTRI goals.
• Execute internal research to support branch, division, lab and corporate strategies and build long-term personnel plans.
• Develop and submit white papers and proposals to support program development.
• Conduct performance evaluations for branch members and provide mentoring and training.
• Oversee recruitment, hiring, and personnel administration within the branch.
• Manage security, ethics, compliance, pay, and benefits for personnel and programs.
• Monitor projects within the branch and coordinate with cross-functional teams as required.
• Provide leadership for internal programs and oversee branch overhead budgets and spending.
• Communicate branch plans and progress to division and lab management.

Skills

Software engineering

Algorithm development

Artificial intelligence

Machine learning

Image processing

Data fusion

Data visualization

Modeling and simulation

Public speaking

Leadership

Tools

C++

Python

MATLAB

Job description

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 Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (PED) Branch is one of five branches in the Electro-Optical Infrared Systems Division (EISD), which is organized under the Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL) at GTRI. The division’s project portfolio spans the breadth of optical systems technologies and applications with sponsors from across the DoW. The PED Branch is responsible for software development across all optical systems as well as algorithm development for image processing, data fusion, data visualization, and related requirements. Direct reports currently include approximately ten personnel.

Job Purpose

Lead multiple sponsored research projects. Manage Branch administrative activities including hiring, appraisals and sponsored project success.

Key Responsibilities

• Develops and executes plans for the growth and sustainment of the branch that achieves align with EISD, EOSL, and GTRI goals and objectives
• Execute internal research that focuses on branch, division, lab and corporate strategic areas and develop long term personnel plans to meet objectives
• Execute internal research that focuses on branch, division, lab and corporate strategic areas and develop long term personnel plans to meet objectives
• Develop and submit white- papers and proposals to support program development
• Conduct performance evaluations for branch members
• Perform mentoring, coaching and training of branch members in technical and other areas
• Conduct recruitment, hiring, termination, and administration of personnel
• Oversee administration of personnel programs including security, ethics & compliance, pay & benefits
• Monitor projects and tasks executed within the branch, engaging outside the branch as required
• Conduct personnel planning for branch programs, projects and tasksProvide leadership of internal programs, projects, and tasks to include management of branch overhead budgets and spending
• Communicate branch plans and progress to division and lab management
• Support project directors in division Monthly Project Status Reviews (MPSRs)
• Coordinate as needed, with division & lab management, computer support, sponsored research support, lab operations, facilities, communications, research security, human resources and other support organizations
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience (3+ years) in one or more of the following areas: software engineering, software development, algorithm development, artificial intelligence, machine learning, image processing, data fusion, data visualization, modeling and simulation, or related fields
• Experience (3+ years) leading technical programs in a project management or technical leadership role
• Experience (3+ years) with business development activities and sponsor engagement
• Experience (3+ years) writing white papers and/or proposals
• Experience (3+ years) creating and delivering technical presentations
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoW Secret Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI Clearance
• Experience in organizational management at GTRI or similar
• Experience (5+ years) working with active and passive electro-optical systems including, but not limited to, LIDARs, infrared imagers, hyperspectral imagers, polarimeters
• Experience (5+ years) in one or more of the following areas: software engineering, software development, algorithm development, artificial intelligence, machine learning, image processing, data fusion, data visualization, modeling and simulation, or related fields
• Experience (5+ years) designing and implementing scalable software architecture solutions
• Experience (5+ years) working classified projects for a government research lab or working on classified DoW sponsored research programs
• Strong software development skills using one or more languages (e.g. C++, Python, MATLAB)
• Experience with generative AI technologies, including large language models (LLMs), prompt engineering, and model integration.
• Experience briefing program activities directly to DoW sponsors
• Experience serving as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on DoW sponsored programs

Travel Requirements

10% - 25% travel

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.