Project/Unit Description The Hardware Security and Trust (HST) Division researches microelectronic applications, CAD tools, architectures, and materials to evaluate the security, trust, and reliability of microelectronic devices and the critical systems which rely upon them. HST develops tools and techniques in the areas of assurance, anti-tamper, and reliability for FPGAs, ASICs, SoCs, microcontrollers, and other microelectronics. HST employees are Research Faculty of Georgia Tech and have the opportunity for dual appointments and teaching positions with other departments of the university. HST is a division of GTRI's cybersecurity lab which contains 300+ engineers and scientists and represents >10% of the total research award funding at the Georgia Tech Research Institute.
Job Purpose Microelectronics expert to research and contribute to the design, synthesis, characterization, packaging, testing, reliability, security, and trustworthiness of nano-fabricated microelectronic semiconductor devices. This may include research of prototype or commercial semiconductor devices and tools, e.g., ASICs, FPGAs. This position involves close collaboration with a highly technical team of research leaders to accomplish task and program objectives, contribute technically to proposal ideation, and conceive and execute internal research efforts refining core research processes and capabilities. Responsibilities range from CAD/EDA tools development, semiconductor nano-device design, fabrication, and verification, to clean-room equipment utilization. Formal methods and other advanced algorithmic techniques will be leveraged to enable and evaluate security and trustworthiness pre and post-fabrication. The position will utilize a wide range of knowledge from semiconductor physics to micro/nano synthesis and fabrication tools, and develop novel techniques, algorithms, and tools to evaluate CAD/EDA flows, architectures, materials, and fabricated devices with new properties and features.
Key Responsibilities - Utilize industry standard microelectronic design and verification tools (.e.g Vivado, Quartus, Cadence, Modelsim, OneSpin)
- Apply knowledge of microelectronic circuitry and its design implementation into microelectronics hardware security techniques -Develop custom software and scripting solutions in support of microelectronic design security and analysis
- May Implement software interfacing with microelectronic design EDA/CAD tools
- May Implement advanced algorithms covering graph analysis, data analysis, and clustering
- Utilize basic microelectronics laboratory equipment (oscilloscopes, signal generators, logic analyzer, optical microscopes, soldering equipment) to support design, analysis, and verification tasks
- Develop and maintain familiarity with at least one of the following languages: Verilog, VHDL, Python, C, C++, Rust, Kotlin, or Java (or similar)
- Contribute small sections to technical reports and presentations
Additional Responsibilities - A strong understanding of embedded systems, hardware design, digital logic design, and various microelectronic architecture.
- Competency designing hardware leveraging at least one industry-standard HDL language (i.e, Verilog, SystemVerilog, VHDL).
- Experience working with at least one major FPGA vendor design tool suite (i.e., Xilinx Vivado, Altera/Intel Quartus, Microsemi Libero) and familiarity with the full design flow (i.e., Simulation, Synthesis, Place-and-Route, Timing Analysis and Closure, Floor Planning).
Preferred Qualifications - Active TS/SCI Clearance
- Hands-on experience with hardware testing, troubleshooting, and embedded hardware/software integration using general laboratory test equipment such as oscilloscopes and logic analyzers.
- Design experience with common hardware interfaces (e.g., UART, SPI, I2C), data flow (e.g., FIFOs, clock domain crossing), and bus protocols (e.g., AXI, AMBA).
- Experience performing verification of hardware designs leveraging industry-standard tools and methodologies (e.g., ModelSim/Questa, SystemVerilog, UVM).
- Experience using Python /Octave/MATLAB/Simulink for modeling digital signal processing blocks.
- Experience with analog/digital circuit design and PCB design and manufacturing.
- Experience with embedded C/C++ or Rust programming and a high-level scripting language (e.g. Python, TCL).
- Comfortable working in a Linux environment.
Travel RequirementsEducation and Length of Experience This position vacancy is an open-rank announcement.The final job offerwill be dependent on candidate qualifications in alignment with Research Faculty Extension Professional ranks as outlined in section 3.2.1 of the Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook
- 0 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or similar technical degree.
Please refer to our Research Faculty Technical Level Guidelines for minimum requirements at the higher levels.
U.S. Citizenship Requirements Due to our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be U.S. 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://benefits.hr.gatech.edu/.
