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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 an Engineering Project Manager to join our Information Science Division (ISD) team of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. ISD's mission is to research, develop, and apply technical innovations that provide Decision Advantage through the use of visualization, analytics, GIS, simulation, and collaboration technologies. You will perform a wide variety of project management functions in support of classified projects from within secure facilities.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
- Collaborate with principal investigators (PI), program manager (PM), project engineers, and researchers to track and report on project cost and schedule milestones, maintain quality assurance processes, and maintain focus on delivering project commitments
- Across various projects, facilitate, coordinate, and lead aspects of subcontract management, including monitoring current subcontractor expenditures, reporting, invoicing, and Contract Deliverable Requirements Lists (CDRL) delivery, documentation preparation related to new subcontracts and subcontractor facility/equipment needs, and subcontractor review meetings
- Coordinate effective project development processes and procedures
- Coordinate and refine both technical and executive-level briefings
- Support the tracking of (CRDLs) across various projects to ensure quality, completeness, and timely delivery
- Prepare reports and other associated project and/or program documentation
- Support the acquisition, tracking, and disposition of project other-direct-costs (ODCs) to include equipment, software, and licenses
- Support offsite project team members through meeting and event coordination to ensure internal and external commitments are achieved
- Interact regularly with PSU/ARL staff and sponsors, stakeholders, and internal project teams, including ARL’s Enterprise organizations (IT, Security, Subcontracts, Facilities) to ensure team needs are effectively communicated, tracked, and completed
Additional responsibilities of higher-level positions include:
- Development of new or refined project specific processes and procedures
- Facilitating and leading the creation of project budgets, work breakdowns, rough order estimates, task prioritization, and integration plans with principal investigators and program managers
- Researching and recommending project management policies, principles, and practices
Required Skills/Experience areas include:
- Project management including, tracking project cost, schedule milestones, quality assurance processes, and the management of project commitments and timelines
- Support of projects to include financial and technical reporting, meeting planning facilitation, and facility/equipment needs
- Experience with the following tool suites: Microsoft applications, to include strong user experience with excel, Atlassian (Confluence and JIRA)
- Success in environments where various forms of communication and organizational skills were crucial to be effective
- Experience collaborating in multi-disciplinary, team-oriented cultures
- Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Top Secret/SCI level
Your working location will be fully on-site located in State College, PA or Reston, VA, but options exist for hybrid of on-site/work from home based on project-dependent availability. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
If filled as Engineering Project Adviser (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required Certifications: None If filled as Engineering Project Adviser (ARL) - Intermediate Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree 1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted 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 Intel Community (IC), and other federal government customers.
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 $62,304.00 - $102,900.00.
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 or equivalent combination of education and experience
- 1+ years relevant project experience (or 3+ years if filled at Advanced level)
- Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Top Secret/SCI level
- U.S. citizenship
- Experience with project management: tracking cost, schedule milestones, quality assurance, and managing project commitments
- Experience with financial and technical reporting, meeting planning/facilitation, and facility/equipment coordination
- Strong user experience with Microsoft applications, including Excel
- Experience with Atlassian tool suite (Confluence and JIRA)
- Strong communication, organizational, and collaboration skills in multidisciplinary teams
- Successful completion of background checks, drug testing, and compliance with electronic/physical monitoring requirements
- Ability to work on-site in State College, PA or Reston, VA (hybrid possible depending on project)
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.
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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.
