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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 experienced, customer service oriented, and self-motivated Engineering Project Manager to join the Fluid Dynamics and Acoustics Office (FDAO) of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. In this growing team of project managers, you’ll play a key role in driving project success by leading and coordinating high-impact research projects and partnering closely with Principal Investigators (PIs) to align technical goals with execution strategies. If you thrive in a collaborative environment and have a passion for leading complex projects, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
Engage with Principal Investigators (PIs) and engineering and technical task teams to translate technical objectives into actionable project plans, while maintaining sponsor alignment
Lead or assist in the management of technical research projects from initiation and execution to closeout
Use internal systems for budget tracking and fiscal accountability
Act as a liaison to both internal ARL departments and offices as well as external sponsors
Manage risks, resources, schedules, deliverables, and communications across multiple projects
Additional responsibilities for higher level position includes:
Utilize project management strategies for implementing project requirements; collaborate with investigators to develop, execute, and update the project plan; monitor and facilitate technical project execution, milestones, and deliverables
Facilitate communication between sponsors, investigators, resource managers, project engineers, and technical tradesmen; manage and track project schedule, resources, deliverables, and milestones; monitor technical project execution to ensure timely and quality deliverables
Manage stakeholder project and product needs; coordinate with investigators to manage and adhere to sponsor requirements
Facilitate task/project budgets, work breakdowns, rough order estimates, task prioritization, and integration plans with investigators and program managers; coordinate with investigators and financial teams to create project budget baseline; establish and update the project budget
Provide relevant project data including cost and hours input to financial teams to create estimates; review project costs on a regular basis to ensure accuracy in preparation for project close out
Collaborate with financial and property inventory teams to review fabrication costs; ensure correct classification, work breakdowns, and coding in preparation for project close out
Required skills and experience include:
Engineering or Science discipline degree
Demonstrated success leading projects in a manufacturing or research environment
Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Project (or similar)
Past success in providing quality results with minimal supervision
Demonstrated ability to work through difficult problems, using proper steps to define and formulate ideas to reach a solution
Preferred skills and experience include:
Demonstrated success as a Principal Investigator (PI) on projects
Proven experience in the use of Agile methodologies
Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility
Active project management certification / training (e.g. PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM, PSM)
Your working location can be hybrid on-site/work from home, located near or around the State College Area. 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 Manager - Senior Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required Certifications: None If filled as Engineering Project Manager - 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
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 web site 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 $91,488.00 - $154,452.00.
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 in an Engineering or Science discipline
- Demonstrated success leading projects in a manufacturing or research environment
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Project (or similar)
- Experience with budget tracking, fiscal accountability, and use of internal financial systems
- Ability to work with minimal supervision and deliver quality results
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to define and formulate solutions
- Eligibility to obtain a government security clearance; must be a U.S. citizen
- Successful completion of background checks and participation in drug testing and monitoring programs
- Demonstrated success as a Principal Investigator (PI) on projects
- Experience with Agile methodologies
- Active project management certification or training (PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM, PSM)
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.
