Agile Systems Engineering Department Head (FACULTY)

The Pennsylvania State University; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% tuition discount

Comprehensive health benefits

Retirement plans

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University’s Applied Research Laboratory in State College, PA seeks a Department Head for the Agile Systems Engineering Department (ASE). The role leads a ~10-person team, guiding strategic direction, technical leadership, and program management across diverse defense-related projects.

Applicants should have a strong background in systems engineering, MBSE, and architecture development, with experience coordinating cross-program efforts and engaging sponsors.

Qualifications

• Lead and manage the Agile Systems Engineering Department, providing strategic direction, technical leadership, and operational oversight.
• Apply systems engineering to complex programs spanning from science/tech to system acquisition; mentor engineers.
• Develop and maintain relationships with sponsors to meet funding objectives.
• Lead research projects, write proposals, staff projects, manage budgets, and deliver high-quality results.
• Foster partnerships with defense contractors, system integrators, and government labs.
• Lead training on systems engineering for ARL staff and external partners.
• Foster innovation, technical excellence, and mission focus.
• Active security clearance at the Secret level or higher.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all aspects of the ASE Department, including strategic direction, personnel management, workforce planning, and performance evaluation.
• Build and direct a multidisciplinary team focusing on systems engineering applications for diverse programs and sponsors.
• Mentor engineers in applying systems engineering to complex problems across maturity levels.
• Support leadership in sponsor relationship development to meet funding objectives.
• Lead individual research projects, develop technical concepts, write proposals, staff projects, and manage budgets.
• Foster partnerships with U.S. Military Program Offices, defense contractors, and government laboratories.
• Deliver training on systems engineering to ARL staff and external partners.
• Promote an innovative, technically excellent and mission-focused culture.
• For higher-level roles, develop roadmaps for embedded systems and collaboration across ARL and external stakeholders.

Skills

Systems engineering leadership

System architecture design

Requirements development

Model-based engineering

Team leadership

Proposal writing

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Security clearance

Education

Advanced degree in engineering or related field

Job description

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants.

POSITION SPECIFICS

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

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

Non-tenure faculty rank will be commensurate with education level and experience.

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 processes

• System 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

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.

BENEFITS

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans. 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 ourBenefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral 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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