Head of Undersea Autonomy & Emerging Tech

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University is seeking a Department Head for Autonomy and Emerging Technology (AET) in the Systems and Emerging Capabilities Division within the Undersea Systems Office. The role leads innovation in autonomy for unmanned vehicles, sensor integration, navigation, and new capabilities for subsea operations.

You will oversee multi-disciplinary teams, manage resources, mentor engineers, and engage Navy sponsors to shape future UxV autonomy research and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Science required with 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience leading technical teams and programs.
• Experience with autonomy and UxV systems or related defense/navy domains.
• Familiarity with DEVSECOPS for government autonomy and control software.
• Strong leadership, decision-making, and cross-disciplinary collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and programmatic leadership for autonomy and emerging technologies in SSW.
• Oversee UxV programs and multidisciplinary teams across navigation, sensors, and communications.
• Manage resources and staffing to align with program priorities.
• Mentor engineers and researchers in UxV autonomy and related fields.
• Plan and execute system integration, field testing, and simulation for autonomy capabilities.
• Collaborate across ARL units and with sponsors to shape research directions.
• Engage with Navy/DoD stakeholders and represent ARL at conferences and reviews.

Skills

UxV autonomy

Team leadership

Decision making

DEVSECOPS

Maritime testing

Clearance eligibility

Autonomy software

Undersea navigation

AI/ML for UxV

Program management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Science

Job description

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University is seeking a Department Head for Autonomy and Emerging Technology (AET) in the Systems and Emerging Capabilities Division within the Undersea Systems Office. The role leads innovation in autonomy for unmanned vehicles, sensor integration, navigation, and new capabilities for subsea operations.

You will oversee multi-disciplinary teams, manage resources, mentor engineers, and engage Navy sponsors to shape future UxV autonomy research and