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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
The Electro-Optics and Electronics (EOE) Division of the Materials, Manufacturing, and Sustainment Office (MMSO) at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University is seeking a highly motivated and self-starting Engineering Project Manager to support a broad range of projects encompassing multiple technical disciplines and scopes. Our mission is to transition new electro-optics technologies and applications to Navy-selected focus platforms. Since 1999, the Electro-Optics Center has proudly served as the Office of Naval Research’s (ONR) Manufacturing Technology Center of Excellence for Electro-Optics.
You Will:
Financial tracking and reporting: Develop and manage technical and financial status reports, as well as technical data package documentation for internal and external stakeholders; set priorities and recommend changes as needed; assist with detailed labor and cost tracking, including mid-month and end-of-project financial updates, and generate custom reports for external presentations
Reporting and compliance: Assemble and submit regular reporting materials in accordance with sponsor guidelines, including quarterly reports, quad charts, trip reports, and project plan templates; analyze program costs, schedules, and milestones to assess risk and manage changes to program deliverables; this includes regular reporting to ARL project leadership and external collaborators, including government sponsors, and requires the application of independent thinking and advanced problem-solving skills
Track and manage project deliverables: Develop and maintain deliverable tracking charts/schedules, ensuring compliance with sponsor guidelines and timely updates
Vendor and supply chain management: Coordinate vendor activities, including SOWs, RFQs, POs, and delivery schedules, ensuring alignment with project timelines and requirements
Meeting facilitation: Organize and facilitate project meetings, including agenda creation, meeting minutes, and follow-up actions
Stakeholder engagement: Serve as a primary point of contact for Principal Investigators (PIs) and external stakeholders, assisting with day-to-day requests and ensuring deliverables are met on time
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/Experience:
Microsoft Office applications including Microsoft Project and Visio
Fundamental project management concepts and their application to real-world projects
Financial tracking and reporting, including labor planning and cost analysis
Government contracts, including contract types, funding appropriations, and reporting requirements
Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Success in an office environment where strong communication and organizational skills are essential for effectiveness
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
FFRDC, UARC, or other government laboratories
Managing vendor relationships and supply chain activities
Extensive experience with government contracts, including contract types, funding
For higher level positions: requires the application of independent thinking and advanced problem-solving skills
Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher, and willingness to undergo a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required
This is a hybrid on-site/work from home, project-dependent ability for hybrid work located in Freeport, PA. 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) - 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 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
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 $68,604.00 - $132,204.00.
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)
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
- 3+ years (Advanced Professional) or 6+ years (Senior Professional) relevant project management experience
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, and Visio
- Fundamental project management concepts and real-world application
- Financial tracking and reporting, including labor planning and cost analysis
- Extensive experience with government contracts, contract types, funding appropriations, and reporting requirements
- Experience with FFRDC, UARC, or other government laboratories
- Managing vendor relationships and supply chain activities (SOWs, RFQs, POs, delivery schedules)
- Strong organizational, time management, and communication skills for office environment effectiveness
- Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher and willingness to undergo government background investigation
- U.S. citizenship (must be a U.S. citizen to apply)
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.
