Photonics/RFIC Engineer – Open Rank (Mid Level) -EOSL Position Available In Fulton, Georgia

Photonics/RFIC Engineer – Open Rank (Mid Level) -EOSL Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) tuition reimbursement United States, Georgia, Atlanta Jun 09, 2025

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 Photonics and Microelectronics Division (PMD) in the Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL) of GTRI is searching for an early to mid-career Photonics/RFIC Engineer, with emphasis on experience in designing, taping out, and testing analog, mixed signal, and/or digital RF integrated circuits (ICs); this can include focus in device physics, TCAD modeling, reliability and advanced measurements of RF ICs. This position is specifically not focused on photonic IC design, though frequent collaboration between photonic and RF IC designers is expected. The Photonics and Microelectronics Division has a dual mission in the topical areas of 1) design, prototyping & packaging of innovative DoD microsystems using digital / RF / photonic ICs, as well as 2) physical analysis of integrated circuits and their ability to perform in mission environments. The PMD team is skilled in design, simulation, fabrication, packaging and measurement of: RF and photonic ICs and subsystems; fiber optics; processing RF signals in the optical domain; fiber communications; building optical and RF systems/subsystems with discrete components and ICs; and materials physics, reliability, and forensics analysis of

III-V & CMOS

devices. PMD is a leader in the Georgia Tech-wide integrated circuit design and fabrication community of interest, which includes GTRI, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, the Packaging Research Center, the Institute for Electronics and Nanoscience. PMD research faculty also play an important role in the GaTech space R D community. GTRI offers a dynamic, collaborative environment, where research faculty generate new ideas for projects to serve the needs of the warfighter, with opportunities to perform on projects outside their division to broaden their knowledge and experience. Job Purpose A Photonics Engineer advances and matures the state-of-the-art in integrated circuits that interact with electromagnetic signals. Their research centers on the development of RFICs and/or photonic IC (PICs) technology enabled through a diverse set of material systems, including Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)-based silicon, silicon germanium (SiGe), and compound semiconductors (InP, GaAs, GaN and their associated ternary and quaternary compositions). The engineer is versed in the design and development of electronic, radio frequency, millimeter wave, and photonics design and development. Technology breakthroughs are achieved through a broad skill set covering numerous stages of the fabrication process including simulation, design, layout, packaging, and characterization of ICs, as well as integration into higher-level systems (such as board-level, component-level, and systems-level). The engineer works as part of a broad team of researchers to innovate new concepts, identify technology stakeholders, and execute challenging research in the national interest. Key Responsibilities Lead designer of RF/Analog IC project tasks
Serves as a lead contributor and author to technical journals and publications
Presents project presentations and technical reports under the supervision of more experienced engineers
Significant contributions to technical reports and presentations
Begin to take ownership of small team development, mentoring others
Significant contributions to white papers and competitive proposals
Supports sponsor engagement Additional Responsibilities Develop RF ICs, MMICs, and advanced microelectronics in materials such as CMOS, SiGe, GaAs, GaN, III-V, from design to tape-out to characterization
Collaborate with Photonic & digital IC designers on integrated circuit design projects
Perform design and layout of integrated circuits and printed circuit boards (PCB) using tools such as Cadence, Synopsis, OptoDesigner, Altium Designer, KLayout.
Model and simulate new radio frequency, photonic, or microelectronic concepts using tools such as HFSS, Silvaco TCAD, Lumerical, OptSim or supplemented with custom programs written in MATLAB or Python.
Use common RF/optical test equipment (spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, signal & network analyzers) to verify designs and performance in laboratory environments
Support business development activities among Department or Defense (DoD) program offices via the preparation of proposals and white papers. Required Minimum Qualifications Candidates currently enrolled in an accredited degree program relevant to this position will be considered. The candidate must have a graduation date of no later than August 2025.
Prior experience with various foundry processes, through tapeout, fabrication, and characterization.
Strong knowledge of radio frequency engineering, circuit concepts, microfabrication techniques, and/or device physics.
Experience with radio frequency component and system simulation and layout software such as HFSS, Cadence AWR, Keysight ADS, Silvaco TCAD, Altium Designer, or Klayout.
Experience performing basic electrical and optical tests using equipment such as spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, power meters, and signal analyzers.
Characterization and test of bare die in a probe station, load pull measurements.
Strong programming skills in MATLAB or Python.
Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Security Clearance Preferred Qualifications Active Secret Clearance
Working knowledge of semiconductor & CMOS reliability mechanisms; measuring & modeling failure analysis & reliability for discrete devices & ICs
Experience with RF and photonic component and system simulation and layout software such as Lumerical, OptSim, VPI Photonics, Optodesigner.
Experience designing, taping out and characterizing photonic ICs.
Strong foundation in mathematics and physics with ability to learn complex engineering concepts demonstrated through primary authorship in peer reviewed publications, contributions to Sponsored programs, or winning proposals.
Experience in leading RF, photonic, digital, firmware, or embedded software design efforts.
Track record in business development and program management to pursue funding and execute complex research projects.
Strong sense of curiosity in both the technical and non-technical aspects of working in applied research.
Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas to a non-technical audience Travel Requirements