The System Architect is part of the Institute for Software Integrated Systems at Vanderbilt University and is a leader responsible for directing engineering and/or software design for a project or projects. This position directs day-to-day project activities, including leading engineering and/or software design, implementation, analysis, maintenance, experimentation, and architecting of small to medium software systems. Reporting directly to the Principal Investigator, the System Architect is the functional lead on a team including, but not limited to, Research Scientists and Research Engineers. 

The Institute for Software Integrated Systems conducts basic and applied research in the area of systems and information science and engineering. Applications of its technology span a wide range of software-intensive systems from small embedded devices, through real-time distributed systems, to globally deployed complex systems. Software is increasingly essential to the functions of these systems, and it is also the primary means of adapting them to their environments and users. Our research interests lie in the theoretical foundations, modeling, design, engineering, and educational aspects of these systems. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead team in modeling and analysis of discipline-specific engineering problems
• Lead development and maintenance of discipline-specific software systems and/or engineering tools
• Specify the architecture and make architectural decisions
• Develop, recommend, and/or define discipline-specific engineering tests and new technical standards
• Maintain familiarity with and expertise in emerging technologies and techniques in order to support and further project and research goals
• Engage in strategy development and execution to support and further project and research goals
• Provide leadership and direction to team members such that project goals and direction are clearly delineated, explained, and evaluated
• Ensure project coordination among research team, Principal Investigator, and external government or industry sponsors
• Direct technical documentation and reporting oversight
• Ensure accuracy of all systems within project research area and scope of responsibilities.
• Oversee project and research progress, and consult with individuals and research team as needed to evaluate progress of project/research
• Review documentation created by Research Engineers for accuracy
• Evaluate team members’ collective documentation of systems and research for accuracy and completeness
• Direct delivery of technical progress reports/presentations in written and oral forms directly to sponsors, scientific community and engineering bodies, and to departmental research staff and faculty
• Manage sponsor/research team/Principal Investigator communications effectively and professionally
• Other tasks as assigned

Supervisory Relationships: This position reports administratively and functionally to the Principal Investigator. This position functionally supervises all members of the project team, including but not limited to Research Scientists and Research Engineers, as the functional lead.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or Engineering is required. A Master’s degree, OR a PhD, is strongly preferred.
• Advanced specification, design, system, and software skills are required.
• Experience architecting small to medium-scale software systems is required.
• Experience with state-of-the-art industrial software development practices is required.
• Deep experience with embedded systems, preferably embedded systems used for Department of Defense applications, is required.
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience is preferred. 
• Knowledge of electrical power systems is preferred.
• Competency in modeling, simulation and optimization algorithms and their implementation is preferred.
• Experience with the development of embedded computing systems is preferred.
• Familiarity with the principles of signals and systems, control theory, and electrical circuits is preferred.