Agile Systems Engineering Department Head

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University; University Park (TX); On-site; USD 161,000 - 299,000; Full time

Job summary

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University is seeking a Department Head for the Agile Systems Engineering Department (ASE) in the MMSO. This on-site leadership role directs a multidisciplinary team and shapes strategic direction, technical excellence, and funding outcomes across diverse defense programs.

You will mentor engineers, develop training, and build partnerships with sponsors and government laboratories while guiding research portfolios from concept to high-quality results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Science required.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary research teams and projects.
• Proven ability to develop technical concepts, proposals, staffing plans and budgets.
• Active security clearance, at the Secret level or higher.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all aspects of the Agile Systems Engineering Department, providing strategic direction, technical leadership, and operational oversight, personnel management, workforce planning, talent development, and performance evaluation
• Build and direct a multidisciplinary team focused on the application of systems engineering to a diverse set of programs, technologies and sponsors
• Mentor systems engineers in applying systems engineering to complex problems across maturity levels
• Support division leadership in developing and maintaining sponsor relationships to meet funding objectives
• Lead individual research projects and portfolios including developing technical concepts, writing proposals, staffing projects, managing budgets, and delivering high-quality results
• Foster partnerships with U.S. Military Program Offices, defense contractors, systems integrators, and other government laboratories
• Lead department personnel in developing and delivering training on systems engineering to ARL staff and external partners
• Foster a culture of innovation, technical excellence, and mission focus

Skills

Leadership of research projects

Systems engineering

Proposal writing

Budget management

Mentoring / staff development

Program sponsorship relations

Training development

Military/defense program knowledge

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Science

Job description

Your working location will be fully on-site located in State College, PA. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations.

POSITION SPECIFICS

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.

We are searching for a Department Head for the Agile Systems Engineering Department (ASE) of the Materials, Manufacturing and Sustainment Office (MMSO) at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State.

The Agile Systems Engineering Department is dedicated to the application and training of systems engineering to support the advancement of warfighter capability at the speed of relevance.

The department focuses on the rapid development of complex engineering systems requiring the integration of cross-disciplinary solutions and expertise, including system architecture design, functional analysis, requirements development, and model-based engineering.

Additionally, the department has a lead role in workforce development and systems engineering training. This role will lead and manage all aspects of the Agile Systems Engineering Department, providing strategic direction, technical leadership, and operational oversight of a department of approximately 10 people.

This leadership position requires a visionary leader capable of building and directing a multidisciplinary team focused on tailored application of systems engineering, model-based engineering, architecture development, and rapid, tailored systems integration.

This position may be filled as either a Research and Development Engineer or a non-tenure Research Faculty.

ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

You will

• Lead and manage all aspects of the Agile Systems Engineering Department, providing strategic direction, technical leadership, and operational oversight, personnel management, workforce planning, talent development, and performance evaluation
• Build and direct a multidisciplinary team focused on the application of systems engineering to a diverse set of programs, technologies and sponsors
• Mentor systems engineers in applying systems engineering to a variety of complex engineering problems that span levels of technical maturity ranging from early science and technology to system acquisition
• Support division leadership in developing and maintaining relationships with sponsors in support of meeting funding objectives
• Lead individual research projects and portfolios including developing technical concepts, writing winning proposals, staffing projects, conducting research, managing budgets, and delivering high-quality results
• Foster partnerships with U.S. Military Program Offices, defense contractors, systems integrators, and other government laboratories
• Lead department personnel in developing and delivering training on systems engineering to ARL staff and external partners
• Foster a culture of innovation, technical excellence, and mission focus

Additional responsibilities for the higher-level position includes

• Support development of a comprehensive roadmap for embedded systems and integration methodologies pertinent to systems of interest to the division including but not limited to missiles, hypersonics, and uncrewed aerial systems
• Establish and maintain partnerships with U.S. Military Program Offices, defense contractors, systems integrators, and other government laboratories
• Build strategic relationships with Defense Industrial Base stakeholders
• Collaborate across ARL departments and with external stakeholders as a trusted agent in identifying and applying appropriate systems engineering activities for large U.S. Military development programs

Required skills/experience areas include

• Leading individual research projects and portfolios including developing technical concepts, writing winning proposals, staffing the project, conducting the research, managing budgets, and delivering high-quality results
• Past success applying systems engineering techniques for complex system development, with emphasis on streamlined and/or tailored processesSystem architecture design, functional analysis, requirements development, system decomposition, and flow down of requirements
• System and interface architecture development and testing
• Evaluation of communications, messaging, and data architectures
• Developing logical and physical representative models of system requirements and architectures
• Developing time-varying physics-based models
• Model-based approaches to supplement traditional test & evaluation (T&E) methods for more complete and cost-effective verification & validation of system requirements
• systems engineering challenges in complex systems (e.g., maritime, aerospace, ground vehicles, unmanned systems)
• Past success in writing white papers or reports
• Active security clearance, at the Secret level or higher

Minimum Education, Work Experience & Required Certifications

If filled as R&D Engineer, Department Head (ARL) - Principal Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 19+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None If filled as R&D Engineer, Department Head (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, Department Head (ARL) - Senior Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 14+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None

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 $161,004.00 - $298,800.00.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our website at www.arl.psu.edu.