Director, Research Engineering & Operations

Job Title

Director, Research Engineering & Operations

Agency

Texas A&M University System Offices

Department

Center for Applied Communications and Networks

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Bryan, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

The System Offices is one of several system members within the Texas A&M University System representing one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a network of 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, nine state agencies, and the RELLIS Campus. The Texas A&M University System mission is to provide education, conduct research, commercialize technology, offer training, and deliver services for the people of Texas and beyond.

The System Offices, within the Texas A&M University System, provides an outstanding benefits package including, but not limited to: competitive health benefits; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; a defined benefit retirement plan to include an employer contribution through Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS); if applicable, a defined contribution retirement plan to include an employer contribution through an approved ORP vendor: additional voluntary tax deferred annuity (TDA) options; tuition assistance; and wellness programs to promote work/life balance.

Salary:

Commensurate with experience.

Job Description Summary:

The Director, Research Engineering & Operations for the Center for Applied Communications and Networks (CACN), under general direction, provides leadership for and assists the Executive Director with the operation of the Center, and maintains responsibility for the engineering and operations and other assigned functions. The position represents the Executive Director in his/her absence and makes key operations and technical decisions. The duties include basic and applied research, development, testing and evaluation of wireless and wired networks and communications systems and applications for public safety, critical infrastructure, and national defense. This role utilizes extensive knowledge of existing network systems to lead the design, development, implementation, and testing of creative and innovative solutions to new and emerging challenges in next generation networks. The primary responsibilities include proposing, conducting, and reporting on research initiatives. The role performs as Principal Investigator (Pl), Co-Pl, or subject matter expert on research projects and commercial contracts.

Responsibilities:

65%: Research Operations

• Serves as a member of the Center's leadership team, leads the operational and engineering functions of the Center, and represents the Executive Director in their absence.
• Leads strategic planning for areas supervised and assists the Executive Director in developing and implementing an overall departmental strategic plan.
• Prepares budgets, allocates resources, and conducts planning for areas supervised to meet short-term needs and long-term sustainability of the Center Provides input to the Center's overall budget.
• Establishes performance goals and KPls to evaluate success for areas of responsibility.
• Participates in funded projects as a Principal Investigator (Pl), Co-Principal Investigator (Co-Pl), senior personnel, subject matter expert, or collaborator.
• Directs engineering and operations staff, ensures efficient workflows, and oversees data collection, analysis and reporting for research projects. Assigns responsibilities and monitors performance of project personnel.
• Conducts own research, engineering, and operations activities, develops required reports, and executes on deliverables as appropriate for each project (player/coach). Such activities include working with radios, antennas, servers, battery systems, and other types of devices in the lab or on towers or rooftops. This requires occasionally lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Supports other principal investigators and clients in RDT&E efforts, both directly and by assigning engineering and operations staff.
• Produces research and contract products as needed to meet the objectives of the project.
• Completes project deliverables according to executed contracts.
• Stays abreast of developments in the field and ensures that the engineering and operations team maintains currency in subject matter expertise.

10%: Outreach

• Attends and presents at conferences as assigned.
• Publishes articles in trade and professional journals as appropriate.
• Represents the center to the University, State and Federal agencies, and industry associations as assigned.
• Serves on US and International Standards Committees as requested. Serves on OHS, DoD, FCC, and other federal advisory boards and committees as appointed.

10%: Research Development Support

• Assists with definition of technical and operational requirements and innovative solutions.
• Assists with writing proposal content, including technical and operational narratives, budgets, budget justifications, and other required content.

10% Supervision and Training

• Recruits, hires, and supervises engineering and operations team members.
• Models ethical, regulatory, and performance standards.
• Models and promotes the open sharing of information, dedication to the team's mission, customer commitment, collaboration, and cooperation.
• Participates in training and professional development with a special emphasis on next generation networking and communications systems, leadership development, and engineering and operations management.
• Conducts professional development trainings for team members.
• Oversees and manages personnel issues.

5%: Other Duties

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or closely related field.
• Ten years of progressively responsible, successful, and related management, administrative, and operational experience leading wireless and transport network engineering teams in research, development, testing and evaluation projects, including at least five years of managing other team leaders and managers.
• At least five years experience in the design, development and deployment of public safety, defense, and/or critical infrastructure communications systems.

Registration, Certifications, and Licenses:

• Ability to obtain at least a Secret-level US security clearance based on a background investigation.
• Must be legally authorized to travel internationally and possess or be eligible to obtain necessary travel documents required for this position.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Deep understanding of complex network systems, including voice, data, and video networks.
• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication skills, including public speaking, such as a conferences and symposiums
• Demonstrated excellence in client relations, requirements assessment and analysis and development of statements of work.
• Demonstrated excellence in the development of winning project proposals for grants and commercial contracts.
• Demonstrated excellence in leading the research, development, testing. evaluation, and service delivery for projects in the networking and communications space.
• Demonstrated excellence in budget development and management.
• Proficiency in MS Office suite (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, Visio, ... )
• Proficiency in project management tools and software (.e.g., MS Project, MS Planner, Jira, ClickUp, ... )
• Willing and able to perform occasional travel, domestically and internationally (up to 20%).
• Willing and able to work outside normal office hours, such as when needed to keep a project on track.
• Willing and able to travel to other campuses and agency offices throughout the State of Texas on a regular basis.
• Work will generally be Inside environmentally controlled office space, but will sometimes involve activities at outdoor facilities, subject to outside weather conditions sometimes in extreme temperatures.
• May occasionally work at heights such as when planning and installing rooftop or tower-mounted equipment and may occasionally be required to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree and/or PhD in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or related field preferred.

Other Requirements:

This is a security-sensitive position and is restricted to U.S. citizens only. Only complete applications will be considered for employment at The Texas A&M System Offices. Incomplete job application data could result in your application being rejected without an option to reapply. A cover letter and resume may be required in addition to a completed employment application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.