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- CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- 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 seeking a Software Engineer to join the Applied Communications team in the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. In this role, you'll implement and integrate advanced algorithms to support cutting-edge research applications addressing critical Department of Defense challenges.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes applications from transitioning military members.
You will:
- Develop software solutions for cutting-edge research in communications systems
- Design applications, libraries, interfaces, and device drivers for diverse system-level requirements
- Implement and test algorithms across multiple domains: underwater, terrestrial, aerial, and space-based platforms
- Create signal processing software for advanced communication systems
- Apply your technical expertise to solve complex national security challenges
- Expand your skills into new and adjacent technology areas
Additional responsibilities of higher-level position includes:
- Provide technical leadership on software engineering projects
- Mentor team members in technical skills, project management, and business development
- Present technical concepts and project updates to external stakeholders and collaborators
Required Skills/Experience areas include:
- Strong computer science fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, networking, distributed systems, memory management, security, databases, and hardware integration
- Proficiency in C++ and C with strong object-oriented programming principles
- High-performance algorithm design
- Software architecture and infrastructure design expertise
- Advanced Linux environment proficiency
- Modern development tools: Git, GitLab, Atlassian suite (JIRA, Confluence, Bamboo, Artifactory, BitBucket, SonarQube)
- Containerization and orchestration experience with Docker and Kubernetes
- Understanding of mobile app and front-end UI/UX development
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills with structured approaches to solution development
Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:
- Master's degree in Computer Science or related field
- Management of multiple concurrent projects and priorities
- Signal processing and algorithm development
- Cellular and/or wireless communications
- FPGA programming
- Database expertise: SQL, NoSQL, and/or Big Data systems
- MATLAB, Python, and/or Java
- CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices
- Translation of business requirements into technical specifications
- ATAK or WinTAK plug-in development experience
- Cyber compliance policies and implementation requirements
- Offline storage, threading, and performance optimization
- Additional software languages (Rust, Bash, JavaScript, HTML, CSS)
- Software libraries (Google Protocol Buffers, ZeroMQ, FastAPI, pytest, React, Tailwind)
- Software tools (AWS, Vim, CMake, GDB)
Your working location will be fully on-site in State College, PA. Questions about work flexibility should be discussed with the hiring manager during interviews.
This role requires periodic travel required for field testing with small research teams
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Software (ARL) - Senior Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 14+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None 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
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 $121,704.00 - $231,000.00.
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 Engineering or Science
- Eligible to obtain a government security clearance / U.S. citizenship required
- 5+ years relevant software engineering experience (or 14+ years if filled as Senior Professional)
- Strong computer science fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, networking, distributed systems, memory management, security, databases, hardware integration)
- Proficiency in C and C++ with strong object-oriented programming principles
- High-performance algorithm design and signal-processing software development
- Software architecture and infrastructure design expertise
- Advanced Linux environment proficiency
- Experience with modern development tools: Git, GitLab, Atlassian suite (JIRA, Confluence, Bamboo, Artifactory, BitBucket, SonarQube)
- Containerization and orchestration with Docker and Kubernetes
- Excellent communication and demonstrated problem-solving skills
- Periodic travel for field testing with small research teams
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.
