Hardware Security and Trust Co-op - Spring 2027 - CIPHER

Georgia Tech Research Institute; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is offering a co-op opportunity in the Hardware Security and Trust Division (HST) within CIPHER, beginning Spring 2027. You will contribute to the development of software tools and hardware design supporting cybersecurity research for microelectronics and embedded systems, while alternating three co-op terms with academic semesters.

The role emphasizes formal verification, research into security controls, and hands-on work with hardware and software in a

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or related field
• 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA
• Must be eligible to participate in a co-op program and register for co-op credit with your university
• Must be able to complete at least three full-time co-op terms prior to graduation

Responsibilities

• Formal verification of cyber-physical systems involving interactive theorem proving and model checking
• Investigating software, languages, and hardware security controls for microelectronics
• Writing and coding software programs, applications, tools, and prototypes per research goals
• Researching hardware-assisted technologies for cybersecurity
• Designing meaningful visualizations of experimental results
• Reviewing and validating software and hardware designs
• Additional novel research objectives as instructed

Skills

Analytical thinking

Critical thinking

Software development

Debugging

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Communication to non-technical

Mathematical foundation

Python

C

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics

Tools

Linux environment

Laboratory test equipment

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.

Job Description

GTRI’s Cooperative Education (“co-op”) program offers you extensive opportunities to participate in diverse scientific and technological endeavors, use state-of-the-art equipment and rapidly improve your technical and leadership skills. The program allows you to alternate three semesters of full-time work at GTRI with semesters of full-time school.

Hardware Security and Trust Division (HST) within the Cybersecurity, Information Protection, and Hardware Evaluation Research Laboratory (CIPHER) seeks a co-op starting the Spring 2027 semester with an interest in the development of novel cutting-edge software tools and/or hardware design to support research in microelectronics and embedded systems hardware security. Work under this undergraduate research assistant may include:

• Formal verification of cyber-physical systems involving interactive theorem proving and model checking
• Investigating the forefront of various technologies (software development, programming languages, hardware security controls, FPGAs, etc.) as they apply to the security and trust of microelectronic devices and the systems in which they are used.
• Writing, translating, and coding software programs, applications, tools, and prototypes according to research goals.
• Researching and implementing applications of hardware-assisted technologies for a variety of cybersecurity-related efforts
• Designing and implementing meaningful visualizations of experimental test results and intermediary analysis data structures
• Review, analyze, and/or validate software and hardware functional designs
• Additional novel research objectives as instructed

Required Minimum Qualifications

Co-op

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree inComputer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or related field
• 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA
• Must be eligible to be approved by your college/university to participate in a co-op program and register for co-op credit with your university during work terms
• Must be able to complete at least three full-time co-op terms (alternating three terms of full-time work at GTRI with semesters of full-time school) prior to graduation

Preferred Qualifications

• Computer proficiency (Hardware Internship): experience working with digital hardware and embedded systems in some capacity (e.g. Digital Design, FPGAs, Microcontrollers, circuit design, schematic capture, etc.)
• Comfortable working in a Linux environment and with standard laboratory test equipment
• Analytical and Critical thinking, Accountability, Strategic thinking and planning, Software Development, Debugging, Working in teams; Attention to detail, Customer service focused
• Strong technical skills and ability to learn complex engineering concepts
• Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas to non-technically
• Strong mathematical foundation including linear algebra, abstract algebra, real analysis and logic
• Proficiency with both Python and C or proficiency witheither Python or C and somefamiliarity with the other

Hours per Week

40 hours per week

U.S. Citizenship Requirements

Due to our research contracts with the US federal government, candidates for this position are required to be US Citizens.

Clearance Type Required

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

Housing and Relocation

Housing and relocation assistance are not available for this position.

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.