Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research Assistant - Spring 2027 - ICL

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.
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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

The Communications Systems and Spectrum Division (CSSD) within the Information and Communications Lab (ICL) is seeking an Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research Assistant starting Spring 2027.

Work with our research engineers to integrate and develop wireless communications systems. This position will leverage your strong interest and experience in digital communications, firmware development and software defined radio (SDR) to assist in tactical waveform implementation on new hardware platforms for Department of War (DoW) customers.

Your tasks will require: reviewing, modifying, implementing, and testing communication waveforms on SDR platforms; Building new communication blocks and signal processing algorithms that can reside on a unified platform (e.g. System on a Chip (SoC) ); and Developing firmware for Field Programmable Arrays (FPGA) such as tested signal processing algorithms.

Other expectations include documentation and drawing support to effectively communicate your work and the team’s work.

GTRI’s Information and Communications Lab (ICL) Communications Systems and Spectrum Division (CSSD) researches and develops military-grade wireless communications. ICL CSSD fuses multiple technologies including software-defined radio, FPGAs, 5G, circuit board design, 3D printing, and UAVs to solve our customer’s most challenging problems.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Experience in 2 or more programming languages (C++, python, matlab)
• Digital communications background theory including modulation scheme, error correction coding, and receiver design
• Firmware development background including implementation of signal processing algorithms (e.g. FIR, FFT, multi-rate) on FPGA
• SDR development background to implement communications systems, including experience with UHD, libiio, GNU Radio, MATLAB/Simulink, and/or Vivado/Vitis.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas

Graduate Research Assistant

• Pursuing a Master’s degree or PhD at Georgia Tech in Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Must be enrolled full-time (12+ credit hours)
• Must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA
• Commit to 15-20 hours of work per week

Preferred Qualifications

• Software engineering background including object oriented C/C++
• HW/SW co-design on a unified platform, e.g. SoC.
• Familiarity with RF test instrumentation
• RF background including laboratory testing equipment and analysis, link budget analysis, electromagnetic wave propagation

Hours per Week

10–20 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 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

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at