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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 will be full on-site located in Reston, VA.
We are searching for a highly motivated and experienced Systems Engineer to join our Systems Engineering Department in the Undersea Systems Office (USO) at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. This role will support the development of complex physical undersea systems, including advanced vehicles, sensors, and integrated hardware/software technologies for undersea applications. This is not an IT, cloud, or enterprise systems position. This role focuses on traditional systems engineering for defense hardware, spanning concept development, system architecture, subsystem integration, test, and transition to fielded military systems. This department's focus is on tailoring and on applying rigor using the systems engineering process. You will have the opportunity to contribute heavily to physical systems development, from conceptual definition into design, test, then transition into production. USO designs, develops, validates, and maintains a suite of large-scale undersea warfare models and simulations used by technology developers, analysts, the Navy, and its allies. We serve as a research center of excellence in undersea weapons, unmanned undersea vehicles, and advanced sonars. We support our national security and undersea warfare sponsors through the development and demonstration of science and technology with the expertise, tools, and processes to take concepts from the early developmental phase through transition to industry and the fleet.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
- Translate stakeholder needs into system-level requirements and architectures
- Perform analysis of alternatives and develop system concepts for hardware‑centric undersea platforms and payloads
- Conduct system and requirements decomposition, interface definition, and integration planning
- Support model-based systems engineering (MBSE), system modeling, and hardware/software integration
- Develop verification and validation strategies, test plans, and test procedures for physical prototypes and fielded systems
- Participate in and support lab, dockside, and at-sea test events
- Collaborate regularly with engineering teams, program sponsors, Navy partners, and program management
- Identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and support lifecycle decision-making
Required skills/experience areas include:
- Applying systems engineering to complex physical systems, preferably in defense, aerospace, maritime, or robotics domains
- Experience collaborating in multi-disciplinary, team-oriented cultures
- Ability to express ideas successfully to drive understanding
- Past success in writing white papers or reports
- Past success in a lead role, organizing, managing, and directing, multi-disciplinary teams, while contributing and assisting in project management
- Past success while leading or contributing to technical proposals and white papers
Preferred skills/experience areas include:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Computer, Systems Engineering or related engineering discipline
- Unmanned underwater systems development
- Hardware integration, prototype testing, or system-level test events
- Past success using requirements and MBSE tools (Cameo, DOORS, Jama, etc.)
- Working knowledge of DoD acquisition, especially Department of the Navy systems engineering processes
- Exposure to environmental qualification, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or embedded system integration
- 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
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
19+ 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 $193,200.00 - $318,840.00. This salary range includes an adjustment based on required geographic work location.
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.