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- If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS
We are searching for a driven, innovative Visualization Research and Development Engineer to join the Advanced Visualization Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. Our department develops cutting-edge visualization solutions that push the boundaries of collaborative visualization, Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) applications for critical national security missions.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
- Design experiences, interactions, and applications that support effective collaboration for research sponsors
- Design and implement application programming interfaces (APIs) to pass data between disparate software applications
- Develop methodologies for effective integration, visualization, and dissemination of novel 3D data sources using game-engine-based synthetic environment frameworks
- Create tool workflows or visual communication methods using internally and externally-developed toolkits to illustrate and document complex concepts
- Integrate features and solutions with synthetic environment frameworks being applied to multiple sponsored projects across domains
- Deploy solutions to Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) platforms including the latest hardware from Meta, Varjo, HTC, and others
- Perform systems engineering activities to improve data flows and processes
- Brief research sponsors on technical solutions
- Develop engineering and technical documentation
- Draft whitepapers and proposals for research sponsors
Additional responsibilities for higher-level position includes:
- Lead the development and prototyping of hardware and software-based solutions for sponsor challenges
- Define immersive interaction standards
- Develop new processes for visualizing content using immersive technology
- Develop and manage new sponsor relationships
- Design and develop architectures of industry-related engineering systems, applying knowledge of complex principles, theories, concepts, tools and techniques to design challenges
- Independently manage multiple and/or large IT projects
- Plan, schedule, conduct, or coordinate detailed phases of the work of a major project or in a total project of moderate scope
- Understand broad strategic objectives and contribute to them
- Develop and maintain long-term professional relationships with government sponsors, industry partners, and academic collaborators to ensure programs meet customer
- Serve as a subject matter expert for the sponsor when needed
Required Skills/Experience areas include:
- Software development proficiency (C#, Python, or Java)
- Team-based software development, troubleshooting, and deployment experience
- Software engineering, systems engineering, human computer interfaces, or visualization technologies
Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:
- Master's Degree
- Active security clearance, TS/SCI preferred, or current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret/Top Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required
- Advanced software development in C#, Python, or Java focusing on modular programming and performance
- Extended Reality (XR) application development (Unity/Unreal)
- Cloud deployment experience (AWS/Azure)
- Software containerization and deployment (Docker, Podman, Kubernetes, Helm, etc.)
- DevSecOps experience
- Graphics programming – rendering, graphical shaders, etc.
- Network programming such as TCP/UDP and client-server
- Messaging interfaces (ActiveMQ, DDS, Kafka, etc.)
- Databases (PostGRES-PostGIS preferred)
- Performance optimization and process automation experience
- Geospatial data formats and standards
- CompTIA Security+ certification
- Project management or related skills
Your working location will be: fully on-site located in State College, PA or Reston, VA. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Software (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 5+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Software (ARL) - Intermediate Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 2+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None
ARL's purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Intel Community (IC). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our website at www.arl.psu.edu.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL): Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $127,080.00 - $240,960.00. This salary range includes an adjustment based on required geographic work location.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
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Skills Required
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Science
- 2+ years (Intermediate) or 5+ years (Advanced) relevant experience in software/visualization engineering
- Software development proficiency in C#, Python, or Java
- Team-based software development, troubleshooting, and deployment experience
- Experience in software engineering, systems engineering, human-computer interfaces, or visualization technologies
- U.S. citizenship (must be a U.S. citizen to apply)
- Eligible to obtain a government security clearance and pass background checks
- Willingness to participate in ARL drug testing program and comply with electronic/physical monitoring requirements
- Periodic travel to remote locations
- Master's Degree
- Active security clearance (TS/SCI preferred) or current eligibility for Secret/Top Secret access
- Extended Reality (XR) application development (Unity/Unreal)
- Cloud deployment experience (AWS/Azure)
- Software containerization and deployment (Docker, Podman, Kubernetes, Helm)
- DevSecOps experience
- Graphics programming (rendering, graphical shaders)
- Network programming (TCP/UDP) and client-server architectures
- Messaging interfaces (ActiveMQ, DDS, Kafka)
- Databases (PostGRES/PostGIS preferred)
- Performance optimization and process automation experience
- Geospatial data formats and standards
- CompTIA Security+ certification
- Project management or related skills
Penn State University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Penn State University and has not been reviewed or approved by Penn State University.
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Retirement Support — Employer contributions to SERS and the TIAA Alternate Plan are described as significant, with supplemental retirement options available. Feedback suggests these choices and contributions create strong long‑term value.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Full‑time employees accrue over 24 sick and vacation days annually, with additional university holidays and a winter break. Feedback suggests this depth of leave supports work–life balance.
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Inclusive Benefits Coverage — A 75% tuition discount extends to employees, spouses, and dependent children up to age 26 across resident instruction, World Campus, and Penn College courses. Feedback suggests this broad eligibility meaningfully enhances total rewards, especially for families.
Penn State University Insights
What We Do
There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our nearly 88,000 students and 17,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom—it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world. From access to state-of-the-art resources to interdisciplinary pursuits in collaborative atmospheres, a Penn State degree is more than an education. The experiences and knowledge gained here will form the foundation for the lives our students build. Their contributions to the world begin with a Penn State degree. We Are Penn State.
