Systems & Robotics Engineer

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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.
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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 f