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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 a highly motivated Technical Engineering Project Manager to join our Mission Systems Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. Our mission is to support research, design and application of engineering development methodologies supporting the strategic advancement of warfighter capability at the speed of relevance. This role will lead the day-to-day tactical execution of complex technical projects and sub-portions of major programs and serve as the nexus between technology and operations, delivering integrated solutions to real-world mission challenges.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You Will:
Provide operational leadership and oversight for technical projects or defined workstreams within larger, complex programs
Define, maintain, and monitor project scope, schedules, budgets, and deliverables to ensure successful execution
Coordinate cross-functional engineering, operations, and support teams to align resources and achieve project objectives
Develop and deliver technical project status reports, updates, and briefings to sponsors and key stakeholders
Coordinate and support technical reviews, design milestones, system integration efforts, and other key project activities
Monitor project performance metrics, risks, and mitigation strategies to identify and address potential issues
Lead configuration management and change-control activities to effectively manage evolving project requirements and baselines
Develop and maintain integrated project schedules, resource plans, and work breakdown structures
Oversee project documentation and support sponsor reviews, technical evaluations, and audits
Support the transition of research and emerging technologies into development, demonstration, and field-ready systems
Provide technical expertise and contribute to proposal development, project planning, and new business opportunities as needed
Additional responsibilities for higher-level position includes:
Serve as the primary liaison between resource managers/supervisors to facilitate staff allocation and support project execution
Provide the technical portion of status reports to the sponsor or for submission to sponsor
Supervise and support project reviews, ensuring all required technical, managerial, and customer approvals are obtained
Conduct project performance analysis during and after project phase-down to inform and improve future programs
Balance a mix of technical and non-technical program responsibilities, applying both strategic insight and hands-on management
Support and coordinate technical reviews, design milestones, and system integration activities by collaborating closely with lead engineers and principal investigators
Ensure technical deliverables align with sponsor expectations, laboratory capabilities, and broader programmatic goals; track earned value, project performance metrics, and provide regular status updates to stakeholders
May mentor, indirectly supervise, or directly oversee staff depending on assignment level
Required Skills/Experience areas include:
Strong engineering foundation supporting system-level technical discussions
Ability to clearly convey technical and programmatic information verbally and in writing
Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project
Project management fundamentals
Ability to express ideas successfully to drive understanding
Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:
Past success within a University Affiliated Research Center/Federally Funded Research and Development Center, or government laboratory
Mission engineering, systems integration, or Model-Based Systems Engineering
Project Management Professional or similar formal project management training
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 on-site located in State College, PA.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
If filled as Technical Engineering Project Manager (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 Technical Engineering Project Manager (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 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 $92,100.00 - $174,708.00.
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 with 3 or more years of relevant experience for the Advanced Professional level, or 6 or more years of relevant experience for the Senior Professional level; equivalent education and experience may be accepted.
- Strong engineering foundation sufficient to support system-level technical discussions.
- Ability to clearly communicate technical and programmatic information verbally and in writing.
- Ability to express ideas successfully to drive understanding.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project.
- Knowledge of project management fundamentals.
- U.S. citizenship.
- Eligibility to obtain a government security clearance and successful completion of required background checks.
- Experience with a University Affiliated Research Center, Federally Funded Research and Development Center, or government laboratory.
- Experience in mission engineering, systems integration, or Model-Based Systems Engineering.
- Project Management Professional certification or similar formal project management training.
- Current eligibility for access to classified information at the 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.
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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.
