Lead, Autonomy & Emerging Tech (Undersea)

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 seeks a Department Head for Autonomy and Emerging Technology to lead innovative autonomy initiatives for unmanned undersea vehicles and sensors. You will guide cross‑disciplinary teams, manage resources, and shape new research directions with Navy and DoD sponsors.

Ideal candidates bring senior leadership experience in autonomy, sensors, and undersea systems, with a track record in program oversight and field-testing.

Qualifications

• Past success managing technical teams and programs.
• Strong decision-making skills in complex technical and operational environments.
• Autonomy for unmanned systems including: autonomy architectures, behavior frameworks and mission planning for undersea missions, undersea navigation and perception autonomy behaviors, autonomy standard for UxVs (e.g., MOSA, A-GRA, UMAA, PCX).
• DEVSECOPS approaches used for government autonomy and control software.
• Test and evaluation of maritime platforms.
• Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Top Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership - Lead innovation in SSW mission area to include autonomy for UxVs, including adaptive mission behaviors, environmental awareness, distributed autonomy, multi-vehicle coordination, and integration of autonomy with UxV sensors and payloads.
• Programmatic Leadership - Oversee SSW-focused UxV programs and multidisciplinary teams working across undersea navigation, endurance optimization, acoustic communications, environmental modeling, and autonomy-enabled CONOPS.
• Resource Management - Align personnel and technical resources—including UxV test assets, autonomy laboratories, software infrastructure, and field test facilities, with program needs and strategic priorities.

Skills

Technical leadership

UxV autonomy

Program management

Decision-making

DevSecOps

Test & evaluation

Education

Bachelor’s Degree - Engineering or Science

Job description

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University seeks a Department Head for Autonomy and Emerging Technology to lead innovative autonomy initiatives for unmanned undersea vehicles and sensors. You will guide cross‑disciplinary teams, manage resources, and shape new research directions with Navy and DoD sponsors.

Ideal candidates bring senior leadership experience in autonomy, sensors, and undersea systems, with a track record in program oversight and field-testing.