Strategic Adaptive Products and Architecture Branch Student Assistant - Spring 2

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 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.

The Strategic Adaptive Products and Architectures Branch within the Software Engineering and Analytics Division (SEAD) of the Information and Communications Laboratory at the Georgia Tech Research Institute is seeking motivated Student Assistants, starting Spring 2027, to join our team supporting a portfolio of software development, artificial intelligence, and enterprise system efforts. These entry-level positions offer a unique opportunity to gain hands-on, cross-functional experience across the full software and data lifecycle - from prototyping and development through testing, deployment, and sustainment - while working collaboratively with experienced engineers, analysts, and researchers in a dynamic research environment.

Student Assistants in this role are integrated across SEAD projects rather than assigned to a single function. Depending on project needs, skills, and interest, you may contribute to software development, AI/ML prototyping and evaluation, data analysis, quality assurance and testing, technical documentation, and product support for one of our largest sponsors. This position is intentionally broad and responsive: you should expect to shift between tasks and projects as division and sponsor priorities evolve. This is a developmental opportunity, providing exposure to Agile delivery, product ownership principles, and enterprise system lifecycle management.

Software Development & Engineering

• Contribute to the design, development, testing, and documentation of software applications, tools, scripts, and automations supporting SEAD projects
• Participate in code reviews, version control workflows, sprint planning, standups, retrospectives, and reviews

Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics

• Assist with AI/ML prototyping, experimentation, and evaluation efforts, including data preparation, model testing, and results analysis
• Support development and assessment of AI-enabled features and workflows, including LLM and automation-based toolingPerform data collection, cleaning, analysis, and visualization to support engineering and research decisions

Product Support & Help Desk Operations

• Provide front-line technical support by responding to, investigating, and resolvinguser-submitted tickets pertaining to a sponsor enterprise system supporting military families
• Use Jira and GitLab to document, prioritize, and track user issues effectively
• Document, track, and resolve user issues and requests in a timely and professional manner

Quality Assurance & Testing

• Participate in testing activities for system updates, new features, and bug fixes
• Execute test cases and document results with attention to detail and accuracy
• Identify, document, and track defects and inconsistencies in system functionality

• Foundational programming ability in at least one programming language (e.g., Python, Java, JavaScript/TypeScript, C/C )
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly and produce concise, relevant documents and presentations
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact with users and teammates of varying technical expertise
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to shifting tasking
• Proficiency with common productivity tools (Microsoft Office, Atlassian, etc.)

Student Assistant/Research Assistant

• Pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Management Information Systems, Data Science, or a related technical field
• Must be registered for at least 6 credit hours with your university during working semesters
• 3.0 or higher GPA

• Experience in one or more programming languages, with coursework or project work in software development
• Coursework, project, or internship experience in machine learning, AI, data science, or statistics
• Familiarity with Git and collaborative development workflows
• Familiarity with issue or ticket tracking systems and/or customer service experience
• Basic understanding of software testing concepts and methodologies, including automated testing
• Exposure to Agile development practices (Scrum, Kanban)
• Experience with cloud services, containers, databases, or APIs
• Experience with documentation tools or technical writing
• Interest in software engineering, AI/ML, product management, or systems engineering career paths
• Embraces diverse people, thinking, and styles

10-20 hours per week

Due to our research contracts with the US federal government, candidates for this position are required to be US Citizens.

Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain an active security clearance.

Housing and relocation assistance are not available for this position.

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The Institute is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and Institute policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia ("USG") and Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of an individual's race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.