Division Head, Guidance and Control Technology (FACULTY)

The Pennsylvania State University; Ferguson Township (PA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive healthcare benefits

Robust retirement plans

75% tuition discount

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University ARL seeks a Division Head for the Guidance and Control Technologies Division of the Undersea Systems Office. You will lead fifty scientists and engineers across four departments, directing autonomous guidance systems research, sensing, data fusion, and real-time embedded software development.

This on-site role in State College, PA requires DoD/Navy funding experience, strong communication, and the ability to build sponsor relationships, develop proposals,

Qualifications

• Principal Investigator, technical lead, or senior contributor on applied research efforts, with external funding experience.
• Leading multi-disciplinary portfolios of research projects, including concept development, staffing, and delivering results.
• Leading a research organization, including planning, budgeting, hiring, and mentoring staff.
• Coordination across units to ensure rigorous execution and high standards of work.
• Superior written and oral communication skills.
• DoD, Navy, and industrial research funding activities.
• Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of fifty scientists and engineers across four departments.
• Oversee planning, staffing, and execution of programs to ensure ongoing tasking.
• Develop and maintain division-wide technical expertise from early development to sponsor transition.
• Build and maintain trusted sponsor relationships and advance strategic initiatives.
• Lead development of proposals and projects to expand knowledge in autonomous guidance systems.
• Coordinate research activities across USO and ARL engineering teams.

Skills

Team leadership

Proposal development

Research funding

Budget management

Communication skills

Security clearance eligibility

Strategic planning

Job description

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 seeking a Division Head for the Guidance and Control Technologies (GCT) Division of the Undersea Systems Office (USO) at the Penn State University Applied Research Laboratory (ARL). The GCT Division serves as a research center of excellence in autonomous guidance systems for undersea weapons and uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs), with a focus on advancements in sensing and tactical decision‑making technologies as well as efficiently integrating and implementing these technologies in real‑time systems. The GCT Division consists of four departments: Signal Processing, Tactical and Autonomous Processing, Applications Software, and Embedded Software. The Division Head will report directly to the Head of the Undersea Systems Office. The Division Head position may be filled as either a non‑tenure Research Faculty or as a Research and Development Engineer commensurate with the candidate’s education and experience. ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

You will:

• Lead a team of fifty scientists and engineers across four departments that are engaged in the research, development, implementation, integration and testing of complex undersea guidance systems, including acoustic signal processing, tracking, classification, and data fusion
• Vehicle autonomy and tactics design, and embedded, real‑time software implementation and testing
• Develop and maintain division‑wide technical expertise in core disciplines, from early development through transition to sponsors
• Work closely with the Office leadership team to build and maintain trusted relationships with key sponsors and stakeholders, ensure the delivery of superior research products to our sponsors and develop and execute strategic initiatives
• Lead the development of proposals and projects that further our knowledge and expertise in autonomous guidance systems
• Provide project updates to sponsors and stakeholders, and lead the development of new business for potential sponsors
• Collaborate with engineers in technical areas across USO and ARL
• Oversee the planning, staffing, and execution of programs to ensure all divisional staff and faculty are appropriately and sufficiently tasked at all times
• Provide a mix of high‑level project management, engineering oversight, and technical expertise related to acoustic signal processing, vehicle autonomy/tactics, and embedded real‑time software
• Coordinate research and development activities between disciplines involving exploration, definition of scope, and identification of problems for investigation
• Recruit, develop, and retain extraordinary R&D engineering staff and faculty
• Non‑tenure faculty rank will be commensurate with education level and experience

Your work location will be fully on‑site, located in State College, PA. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process. This position will require periodic travel to remote locations in support of testing as part of a small team of researchers, engineers, and technologists.

Required Skills/Experience

• Principal Investigator, technical lead, or senior contributor on applied research efforts, with a record of securing and sustaining external funding in one or more of the following technical areas: underwater acoustics, signal processing, autonomous decision‑making, and software development
• Leading individual and multi‑disciplinary portfolios of research projects including developing technical concepts, writing winning proposals, staffing, conducting the research, managing budgets, and delivering high‑quality results
• Leading a research organization, including planning and managing labor across projects, managing research budgets, and hiring, coaching, and mentoring employees
• Coordination across units to ensure rigorous execution, sound research and engineering practices, and the highest standards of technical work are maintained
• Superior written and oral communication skills
• DoD, Navy, and industrial research funding activities
• Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher; candidates may also be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. All positions at ARL require candidates to possess the ability to obtain a government security clearance; you will be notified during the interview process if this position is subject to a government background investigation. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply. Employment with the ARL will require successful completion of a pre‑employment drug screen.

BENEFITS

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Robust retirement plans
• Generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children

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 our Benefits 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. Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster PA State Labor Law Poster Penn State Policies Copyright Information Hotlines

There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our 100,000 students and 40,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom – it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world. Our ideals stem from our origins as Pennsylvania’s sole land‑grant institution, which allow us to continue to bring positive impact to humanity through our teaching, research, and engagement mission. And across the world is a community of Penn Staters – more than half a million strong – driven by that same spirit to serve our local and global communities. At Penn State, passion is met with collaboration in an environment that is rooted in shared pride for the accomplishments of our fellow students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Penn Staters cheer each other on to build a culture committed to service and engagement. Our University values represent our core ethical aspirations for all our daily activities and actions as students, faculty, staff, and volunteers at Penn State. Our values are as follows; Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community. We Are Penn State. One Community. Impacting Many.