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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
We are searching for an experienced Systems Test Engineer to join our Systems Integration and Hardware-In-the-Loop (SIHIL) Department of The Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University. This multi-disciplinary role requires test engineering expertise to support and execute the rapid integration and verification of new undersea systems designs.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
Assist in providing technical leadership and innovative approaches to the integration of low-fidelity models into a Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) testbed useful for interface and functional testing in a System of Systems
Collaborate with others to initiate design, and develop software and hardware for use in purposeful test sets and test systems that control and observe test articles
Integrate custom electronics and/or Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) equipment as part of the overall fabrications used in new design verification
Assist with the development of processes and procedures used in integration and verification of undersea designs
Prepare written and/or verbal presentations or technical documentation and present to a broad variety of audiences
Support a thriving research and development environment that fosters creativity and collaboration
Additional responsibilities for the higher-level position include:
Lead projects and teams and mentor staff in the development of technical, project, and business development skills
Build relationships with individuals and units within and outside projects
Required skills/experience areas include:
Proven experience in creating and executing testing solutions that exercise, measure, and verify functional performance of embedded control systems along with related sensors and electro-mechanical assemblies
Development of software used in the execution, automation, measurement, and analysis of complex test articles
Experience writing technical test procedures and related technical documentation
Success in an environment where various forms of communication and organizational skills were crucial to be effective
Previous success with collaborations in a diverse, multi-disciplinary, team-oriented culture
Preferred skills/experience areas include:
Design verification testing, acceptance testing, requirements management, and verification
Prior understanding of the architecture and implementation of a System of Systems for an undersea design and its corresponding interoperability with launching platforms or command and control systems
Use of MATLAB as an analysis tool in evaluating test data
Understanding of National Instruments tools such as LabVIEW, VeriStand, and TestStand and their application to systems integration and HIL
Integration and application of Data Acquisition Hardware and Equipment from National Instruments
HALT/HASS development and execution
Applied experience with standard System Engineering documentation such as SSS, SRD, TRD, and/or TEMP
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, if required
Your working location will be fully onsite, located in State College, PA. This position will require periodic travel to remote locations in support of testing as part of a small team of researchers, engineers, and technologists. 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 Research and Development 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 Research and Development Engineer - Systems (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 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 $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
- 5+ years relevant experience (Advanced Professional) or 14+ years relevant experience (Senior Professional)
- Proven experience creating and executing testing solutions for embedded control systems, sensors, and electro-mechanical assemblies
- Development of software used for execution, automation, measurement, and analysis of complex test articles
- Experience writing technical test procedures and related technical documentation
- Strong communication and organizational skills; success collaborating in diverse, multi-disciplinary teams
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Eligibility to obtain government security clearance; successful background check(s) and participation in drug testing program
- Work fully onsite in State College, PA; periodic travel to remote locations for testing
- Design verification testing, acceptance testing, requirements management, and verification
- Understanding of System of Systems architecture for undersea designs and interoperability with launching platforms or command and control systems
- Use of MATLAB as an analysis tool for evaluating test data
- Experience with National Instruments tools (LabVIEW, VeriStand, TestStand) and NI Data Acquisition hardware
- HALT/HASS development and execution
- Familiarity with systems engineering documentation (SSS, SRD, TRD, TEMP)
- Current eligibility for access to classified information at Secret level or higher
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.
