Mechanical Engineer (Entry Level) - SEAL - Open Rank

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.

Location

Smyrna, GA (Metro Atlanta) 

Project/Unit Description

The Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory (SEAL) of the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is looking for bright, curious, and motivated hardware-oriented engineers and scientists who enjoy creating and fielding innovative solutions to challenging technical problems. Researchers in SEAL apply interesting cutting-edge technologies to problems of vital importance for the nation's security, work with nationally recognized technical leaders, and enjoy a satisfying work-life balance. They investigate and develop radio frequency (RF) sensor systems, with particular emphasis on radar and electronic warfare (EW) systems, through digital and RF design engineering, signal and data processing algorithm development, and performance modeling and simulation.
This position is within SEAL’s Spectrum Warfare and Operations Research Division (SWORD) where engineers develop applied solutions addressing current and future critical needs in RF sensors and electronic countermeasures. The breadth of activities includes definition and analysis of requirements, embedded systems design and development, rapid prototyping, laboratory and field testing, and building and fielding deployable systems.

Job Purpose

The Mechanical Engineer is responsible for the research and development of state-of-the-art mechanical and electro-mechanical systems. This includes ideation, design, analysis, manufacture, implementation, integration, and testing of components, subsystems, and full systems, as well as guiding their successful deployment and implementation in a variety of environments. Applications include aeronautics, aerospace, transportation, military equipment, radar and electromagnetic systems, electronics, optical systems, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), and remote sensing. Mechanical Engineers evaluate materials, structures, kinematics, thermodynamics, and fabrication methods, combining theoretical and experimental results to meet and manage complex system requirements. Core functions encompass modeling, simulation, and analysis of proposed designs, including finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), vibration, shock, and fatigue analysis, and thermal analysis. Functions may include reverse engineering and redesign of existing mechanical assemblies and components, research in emerging and advanced manufacturing methods, creation of technical data packages to communicate design and manufacturing intent to project teams and stakeholders, or development and evaluation of prototypes.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and document mechanical systems using 2D and 3D modeling tools
• Contribute to the preparation of technical data packages
• Execute basic mechanical analysis and test tasks
• Perform mechanical measurements, component selection, and limited prototyping

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 May 2026
• 1+ years of experience with SolidWorks or simila