Group Leader, RF & Intelligent Systems

Requisition Id 12632 

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,200 people! Our vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation.

Overview:  

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is seeking a group leader for the RF & Intelligent Systems group within the Electrification and Energy Infrastructure Division (EEID).  The ideal candidate will have experience in one or more of the following: radio frequency (RF) communication systems, RF data collection and analysis, signal processing algorithms, electromagnetic (EM) modeling and simulation, antenna design, software defined radio (SDR), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methods, edge computing, and sensor systems.

The RFIS group conducts transformational research and development for challenges in RF communication, signal data processing/analysis, and deployable sensor systems.  RFIS consists of highly talented experts in signal processing, communications, EM modeling and simulation, AI/ML, compliance testing, and sensor system development.  Major application spaces currently being addressed by RFIS include national security, critical infrastructure, and buildings technologies.

The RFIS Group Leader will be responsible for leading R&D in algorithm and system development, work with the section head to develop strategies for maintaining and growing technical application spaces, and leading/mentoring a group of 8-12 researchers.  Special emphasis and focus is on the research, development, and demonstration of intelligence at the edge, that is, AI/ML algorithms deployed on fieldable systems where processing is happening at the point of data collection.  This focus includes real-time sensing and analysis of the environment, visualization of relevant data, and integration of existing sensor technologies to form new capabilities.

This position is in the Energy Sensor Analytics and Communications Section (ESAC).  This section develops sensor solutions that closely incorporate data science, signal, and image processing algorithms with sensor system design to address challenges across a diverse range of applications (manufacturing, transportation, national security, and more).   

Purpose:

Intelligent systems that employ AI algorithms at the edge are significantly impacting key applications spaces in energy and national security.  This position brings together expertise in the RFIS group to solve national challenges in these spaces.  The group leader will drive development in these areas through developing ideas and proposals, forming teams across ORNL, developing group members to enable their career advancement, establishing capabilities that enable programs to excel at the forefront of science and technology, performing R&D to advance the field of knowledge and/or technology, implementing and exhibiting standards for performance of work consistent with Environment, Safety, Security, Health, and Quality (ESH&Q) requirements and business rules, and ensuring a diverse and inclusive work environment where every employee feels safe, heard, and appreciated—a workplace that sets an example for the broader community.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Research:
  • You are a recognized leader in their area of technical expertise. Initiates, leads and performs independent R&D on an ongoing basis.
  • Develop and grow programs in RF sensing, communications, algorithms, and intelligent systems for national security and critical infrastructure.
• Leadership:
  • Develop a vision and implement a cohesive group research strategy to ensure the success of new and ongoing research projects to position the group for future success.
  • Develop and implement plans to exploit new opportunities and/or expand existing efforts.
  • Assist staff in setting performance goals consistent with the group’s strategy and members’ long-term career goals. Provide feedback to address performance issues in a timely manner.
  • Provide relevant input to assist the ESAC Section Head with staff development while providing direct and impactful guidance to staff on regular basis.
  • Attract a quality, diverse pool of top candidates and hire staff members who are committed to world-class R&D and aspire to be the best in their field.
  • Lead by example by exercising the principles in ORNL’s “Research Code of Conduct” as a guide for proposing, performing, and communicating research.
  • Coach and mentor staff regarding Battelle’s “Safe Conduct of Research” principles
  • Lead ESH&Q by example and ensure all work is carried out safely, securely, and in compliance with ORNL policies, standards, and procedures.
  • Exemplify a commitment to "One ORNL" by modeling lab expectations for excellence in research, operations, and community engagement, and by working cooperatively to leverage capabilities across the lab.
• Service:
  • Serve as immediate supervisor for staff members in group.
  • Encourage staff to “think and dream big,” take appropriate risks in their work, and develop skills that will enable them to pursue new ideas, scientific passions, and research programs.
  • Advance the reputation of the group members and standing of the group as a whole through establishing collaborations, Professional Society leadership and involvement, and organization of technical events.
  • Support group members by consistently reviewing technical products such as proposals, publications, and artifacts to ensure high quality and consistency with ORNL standards.
  • Build strong teams across ORNL.
  • Connect staff to your scientific network and professional societies.
  • Hold regular scientific/technical group meetings and be visible in the labs and workplace.
  • Assume front-line responsibility for safety in the group’s laboratory; mentor and empower the Laboratory Space Managers to create a strong safety culture.
  • Effectively communicate the importance of protecting proprietary or sensitive information and complying with ORNL cybersecurity policies and guidelines.
  • Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• Requires a Ph.D. in electrical/computer engineering, computer science, or closely related field with a minimum of 8 years relevant experience, a M.S. with a minimum of 12 years relevant experiences or a B.S. with 15 years relevant experience.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Qualified candidates must have demonstrated experience and success in leading R&D teams.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory. 
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

Accountabilities:

• To group staff, for the quality and safety of their work environment and opportunity for professional growth.
• To ESAC Section Head, for world-leading science and technology directions, safe effective, and compliant operations, ownership of assigned staff, facilities, and equipment, and the quality of products and services.
• To customer, for the quality of products and service.

Authorities:

• Develop a vision and implement a strategy to pursue world-leading science and technology directions for the RFIS group.
• Hold staff accountable for performance.
• Act to ensure safe and effective operations.
• Hire staff.
• Certify the technical quality of the group’s products and services.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.