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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
Your working location can/will be fully on-site located in State College, PA. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations.
We are searching for highly motivated Systems & Robotics Engineers to join Autonomy and Emerging Technology (AET) Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. The AET Department serves as ARL’s innovation hub for developing and evaluating advanced capabilities in the Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW) mission space. This role will work at the intersection of autonomy, underwater robotics, and prototype system integration to rapidly transition new technologies to Navy sponsors. Our team is expanding to support the SSW mission area.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
- Technical: Develop and integrate autonomy architectures for UxVs; design and test novel SSW payloads, sensors, navigation solutions, and undersea effectors; contribute to mission analysis, system architecture, and deployment strategies
- Team Collaboration: Work within a multidisciplinary team covering undersea navigation, endurance optimization, acoustic communications, environmental modeling, and autonomy enabled CONOPS
- Simulation and Test: Build prototype architectures using SIL and HIL environments and conduct field testing with unmanned platforms in representative maritime conditions
- Cross-Lab Engagement: Interact and collaborate regularly with software team, project lead and other collaborators throughout the lab
Additional responsibilities for higher-level position includes:
- Manage technical tasks and engineering projects of varying size and complexity, including responsibility for technical performance, schedules, budgets, deliverables, and risk management
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, software developers, technicians, and external research partners to accomplish program objectives
- Ensure engineering activities comply with applicable sponsor requirements, engineering standards, quality requirements, cybersecurity policies, export control regulations, information assurance requirements, and laboratory security procedures
- Support research conducted within Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified environments while safeguarding sensitive technical information and government-furnished data
- Participate in technology transition activities, including system integration, operational demonstrations, customer evaluations, manufacturing support, and field implementation
- Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies to improve program execution, system performance, reliability, maintainability, and mission effectiveness
- Initiate and contribute to business development activities through technical concept development, customer engagement, proposal preparation, Independent Research and Development (IRAD) initiatives, and strategic technology planning
- Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior engineers, engineering technologists, engineering support personnel, interns, and students
- Maintain technical expertise through continued professional development, participation in technical working groups, awareness of emerging technologies, and engagement with the defense research community
Required Skills/Experience areas include:
- Systems engineering applied to complex hardware/software systems
- Strong analytical skills and ability to work across disciplines
- Practical experience with Agile software/system development
- Testing and evaluating systems and subsystems
- System architecture for integrated robotic or autonomous systems
- Active security clearance, at the Secret level or higher
Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:
- UxV / Undersea Systems
- UxVs, including platforms, payloads, launch and recovery, acoustic communications, and energy management
- Oceanography, seabed features, or environmental data for autonomy
- Prior support to Navy missions or UxV fleet experimentation
- Autonomy and Mission Technologies
- Autonomy development (behaviors, mission planning, architectures, standards)
- Navigation for GPS denied environments
- Sensor integration, payload delivery methods, undersea effectors
- Counter UxV research or applications
- Modeling, Simulation, and Evaluation
- MBSE tools (Cameo, MagicDraw, etc.)
- Development or use of UxV simulation frameworks
- Maritime test and evaluation of unmanned platforms
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
If filled as R&D Engineer - Systems (ARL) - Senior Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 14+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None If filled as R&D Engineer - Systems (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 5+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None If filled as R&D Engineer - Systems (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 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 $105,900.00 - $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
- 2+ years of relevant experience for Intermediate Professional level
- 5+ years of relevant experience for Advanced Professional level
- 14+ years of relevant experience for Senior Professional level
- Experience applying systems engineering to complex hardware and software systems
- Strong analytical skills and ability to work across disciplines
- Practical experience with Agile software or system development
- Experience testing and evaluating systems and subsystems
- Experience with system architecture for integrated robotic or autonomous systems
- Active security clearance at the Secret level or higher
- U.S. citizenship
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.
