Embedded Software Engineer

The Pennsylvania State University; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 76,700 - 129,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% tuition discount

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Robust retirement plans

Substantial paid time off

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer for the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) in State College, PA. This role involves designing and testing software for autonomous systems, working in a multidisciplinary team. Candidates must hold a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Science, with experience in embedded systems programming. Salary ranges from $76,700.00 to $129,500.00, alongside a generous benefits package including a 75% tuition discount. This position is fully onsite and supports national defense research initiatives.

Qualifications

• Experience writing software for embedded systems.
• Proficient in C or C++ for embedded environments.
• Effective in collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and test embedded software for autonomous vehicle control.
• Collaborate with teams for hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Prepare technical documentation and presentations.

Skills

Embedded software development

C/C++ proficiency

Interpersonal communication

Technical documentation

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Science

Tools

Embedded communication protocols

Microcontroller programming

Linux

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Position Overview

We are searching for a motivated and technically strong Embedded Software Engineer to join our Embedded Software Department within the Guidance and Control Technologies Division at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University. This position supports the development of advanced autonomous undersea systems and contributes directly to national defense research initiatives.

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

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.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, integrate, and test embedded software supporting autonomous vehicle guidance and control, including sensor monitoring, actuator and motor control, and algorithms for signal processing, detection, classification, tracking, and decision making
• Develop and integrate autonomy‑related capabilities such as sensor fusion, perception, and embedded signal‑processing pipelines
• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary team to integrate complete embedded software systems and support hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing and bench‑level validation
• Prepare documentation, technical reports, and presentations
• Support occasional travel to remote test locations as part of a small engineering and research team

This position will be fully onsite in State College, PA. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations.

Required Skills and Experience

• Writing software for an embedded system
• Proficiency in C or C++ for embedded environments
• Effective interpersonal communication skills, demonstrated through previous success in collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering environments
• Ability to clearly convey technical information in presentations, documentation, and design discussions

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Embedded communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I²C, CAN, and Ethernet
• Microcontroller programming and low‑level embedded development
• Linux experience
• Scripting with Python or MATLAB
• Autonomy‑related algorithms such as sensor fusion, Kalman filtering, state estimation, or embedded perception / tracking
• Autonomy frameworks (e.g., ROS 2, MOOS‑IvP, JAUS‑based middleware)
• Realtime embedded systems or RTOS environments
• Hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) environments or lab‑based hardware integration
• Use of AI or LLM‑assisted workflows to improve software development efficiency, code quality, or documentation
• Agile development methods and toolsets such as Atlassian
• Unit testing frameworks
• 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

If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Intermediate Professional, this position requires:

• Bachelor's Degree – Engineering or Science
• 2+ years of relevant experience
• Required Certifications: None

If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Professional, this position requires:

• Bachelor's Degree – Engineering or Science
• No prior relevant work experience required
• Required Certifications: None

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.

Salary & Benefits

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $76,700.00 - $129,500.00. The proposed salary range may be impacted by geographic differential.

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.

EEO Statement

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.