Job Details

UTSI Group Director, Research Engineering Operations

Position Number: 6550982
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Position Type: Laboratory and Research

UTSI Group Director, Research Engineering Operations
Tullahoma, TN, United States

Job Identification: 4980
Job Category: Research
Posting Date: 09/05/2025
Job Schedule: Full Time
Locations: 411 B. H. Goethert Parkway, Tullahoma, TN, 37388, US (On-site)

Job Description
The Group Director of Research Engineering Operations (REO) is responsible for the resource allocation and execution of institutional capabilities supporting research at the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI). This includes oversight of 10-20 staff members, more than 80,000 ft of laboratory space, and several million dollars in research equipment and infrastructure. The position plays a key role in strategic planning for research growth, manages technical staff, and coordinates with faculty and research personnel to ensure alignment of research capabilities with institutional priorities.

This position provides broad leadership in the development and management of UTSI's research facilities, resources, and staff. The Group Director directs operational planning, oversees lab capability development, ensures compliance, and supports faculty and principal investigators in executing proposals and winning competitive research funding. The role requires managing significant budgets, advancing research infrastructure, and engaging with external agencies, corporations, and partners to expand opportunities for the Institute.

Responsibilities

Provide oversight of UTSI's research park, including labs, equipment, and compliance.
Prepare and manage departmental budgets, including labor, materials, equipment, and safety/training.
Supervise three functional groups (10-20 staff: technicians, machinists, research associates, engineers).
Direct training programs and ensure compliance with research safety requirements.
Schedule personnel, lab resources, and equipment for proposals and projects.
Maintain databases of staff and equipment use per project.
Develop advanced research capabilities that support UTSI's leadership in multiple fields.
Provide proposal support, coordinate purchases, and direct logistics for research.
Solve strategic, complex problems with Institute-wide implications.
Contribute to strategic planning for research growth and capability expansion.
Engage external partners such as NASA, Air Force, Army, ORNL, UTK, and corporate entities to build strategic collaborations.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a closely related area.
Experience: At least 5 years in engineering, research labs, or academic roles. Minimum of 2 years in a management role.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Fluent with Microsoft Office.
- Ability to multitask, prioritize, and adapt in a changing research environment.
- Knowledge of engineering and management principles.
- Budget and staff scheduling abilities.
Other Requirements:
Must be able to work in an ITAR-compliant environment.
Must be able to achieve and maintain a DOD security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Master's degree in Engineering or related field.
Experience: 10 years in research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) environments. Experience with defense-related project teams. Budgeting and safety experience.

Work Location

Location: Tullahoma, Tennessee
Onsite Requirement: This is an on-campus position located at UTSI.

Compensation and Benefits

UT Market Range: MR16
Anticipated Hiring Range: $124,469.05-$132,250.34, based on qualifications and experience.
Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit the following materials:

Resume
Cover Letter
List of three professional references

About the Department

The University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI) is a graduate education and research institution located in Tullahoma, TN. UTSI provides advanced graduate education in engineering and related fields and supports significant research in aerospace, energy, and advanced materials. Its facilities and infrastructure are central to its mission of supporting both students and world-class researchers.

About Us
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees-the Volunteers-who uphold the university's tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee's flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy's largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as "Best Employer for New Graduates," "One of America's Best Large Employers," and "Best Workplace for Women," and has been designated as "Best Place for Working Parents" by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!

To apply, visit https://fa-ewlq-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/4980/?mode=location