Job Description

The Rocketry and Flight Instrumentation Branch (RFIB) of the ATAS Aerospace and Acoustics Technologies Division (AATD) is searching for an experienced Aerospace or Mechanical Engineer subject matter expert with a strong background in aeromechanical design and system analysis. Key research areas of interest include launch vehicles, rocket propulsion, bio-inspired design, and mechatronics. Secondary research areas of interest include applied maintenance techniques for aerospace vehicles and end-user data delivery techniques.

Primary roles include supporting research aimed at incorporating a bio-inspired boost system guidance payload into a launch vehicle test article, reviewing government payload and telemetry designs, and coordinating with test engineers during the program's design, prototyping, and test phases. Additional roles of interest would include support of maintenance and data pipeline development (including data curation and end-user data delivery), and development for rocket or space-centric payloads. Business development and coordination with external government sponsors as well as representing active GTRI research at government technical meetings for in-depth applied research discussions is also expected.

The desired candidate should be familiar with the peer-review publishing process and be experienced in proposal writing, working in a laboratory environment, and comfortable with technical engagement with sponsors and colleagues.

Job Duties

• Develop, assess, and integrate a bio-inspired launch vehicle test article to include mechanical design, system-level analysis, and coordination with component level engineers into a single integrated launch architecture
• Familiarity with non-traditional materials used for aerospace applications
• V&V model results with relevant measured flight data and characterize performance (rocket trajectories, rotorcraft flight maneuvers, etc)
• Familiarity with aerospace maintenance approaches (Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) or Predictive Maintenance methods, aircraft maintenance, and scheduling standards, etc)
• Aerospace testing as needed (flight testing, data acquisition, etc.)
• Technical writing for proposals, deliverables, and peer-reviewed publications
• Task leadership management skillset
• Interaction and collaboration with academia (joint appointment, student advisor, etc)
• Communication and networking with research colleagues, sponsor interactions, and academic collaboration
• Preferred experience with end-user interfacing and non-traditional data delivery methods (AR/MR, HUD, wearable sensors, haptic feedback, etc)

Travel Requirements

10% - 25% travel

Education & Length of Experience

Research Engineer/Scientist II

• A Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of study and three (3) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of that degree,
• A Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of study and five (5) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of a Bachelors degree, or
• A Doctoral degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of study.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• A Master's or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or a related field of study is required for consideration
• 5-8 years of experience in an applied research environment for Master's holders
• 2-4 years of experience in an applied research environment for Ph.D. holders
• The candidate should possess a strong technical understanding of aeromechanical fundamentals, system-level mechanical and aerospace analysis techniques
• Expertise in Solidworks, Matlab, Python, and git
• Familiarity with code development standards, version control methods, and software documentation
• Familiarity with fundamental T&E skill set (such as sensors and instrumentation, data acquisition/analysis, and core signal processing skills)
• Capability for contribution in both individual and team research programs
• Strong communication, technical writing, and analytical problem-solving skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Active DoD Clearance is strongly preferred

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.

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://hr.gatech.edu/benefits

Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) at Georgia Tech Research Institute aims to enhance the Institutes mission of solving the worlds most complex technical problems by creating a workforce with a shared appreciation for diversity, raising awareness around inclusiveness, and fostering a sense of belonging and appreciation for all members of our community.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Georgia Tech Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans and actively seeks diversity among its employees. Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law.