Systems Engineer - Test and Evaluation

Penn State University; United States; On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn State University’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) is seeking Systems Engineers to join the Systems Engineering Department in the Undersea Systems Office. You will plan, design, and execute system-level land-based and in-water verification activities across development, integration, and verification phases, from conceptual design to testing.

This role requires collaboration with ARL management, subsystem leads, sponsors, and DoD test entities.

Qualifications

• Developing and executing test plans and system verification activities.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering and V&V principles.
• Hands-on experience with instrumentation, data collection, and test equipment.
• Ability to assess system performance and communicate findings clearly.
• Test documentation and configuration management.
• Experience collaborating in multi-disciplinary, team-oriented cultures.

Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and execute system-level land-based and in-water T&E across development, integration, and verification phases
• Develop test plans, procedures, and traceability/verification matrices
• Conduct functional, performance, environmental, and integration testing
• Analyze test data, support root-cause investigations, and provide recommendations
• Prepare technical reports, SITREPs, and briefings
• Coordinate test logistics, including hardware/software readiness, range resources, data collection, transportation, and team staffing
• Lead Test Readiness Reviews and post-test out-briefs
• Serve as on-site Test Director for field events and lead small multidisciplinary teams
• Manage test-related risks and develop contingency and casualty procedures.
• Participate in test-related working groups

Skills

System verification

Test planning

Instrumentation

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

We are searching for highly motivated Systems Engineers to join our Systems Engineering Department in the Undersea Systems Office at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State . This position will have opportunities to cover all aspects of planning and execution of in-water and land-based verification activities across a program's life cycle, from conceptual design to design verification, system integration, qualification, platform integration, and in-water testing of prototype systems. This position requires close coordination with ARL Program Management, subsystem leads, program sponsors, and external test and evaluation (T&E) entities in the U.S. government. USO designs, develops, validates, and maintains a suite of large-scale undersea warfare models and simulations used by technology developers, analysts, the Navy, and its allies. We serve as a research center of excellence in undersea weapons, unmanned undersea vehicles, and advanced sonars. We support our national security and undersea warfare sponsors through the development and demonstration of science and technology with the expertise, tools, and processes to take concepts from the early developmental phase through transition to industry and the fleet.

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

You Will:

• Plan, design, and execute system-level land-based and in-water T&E across development, integration, and verification phases
• Develop test plans, procedures, and traceability/verification matrices
• Conduct functional, performance, environmental, and integration testing
• Analyze test data, support root-cause investigations, and provide recommendations
• Prepare technical reports, SITREPs, and briefings
• Coordinate test logistics, including hardware/software readiness, range resources, data collection, transportation, and team staffing
• Lead Test Readiness Reviews and post-test out-briefs
• Serve as on-site Test Director for field events and lead small multidisciplinary teams
• Manage test-related risks and develop contingency and casualty procedures.
• Participate in test-related working groups

Additional responsibilities for higher level positions:

• Lead development and fielding of test-related equipment and support systems
• Oversee program-level resource planning and deconfliction
• Develop program-level Requirements Verification Matrices
• Identify test strategies for emerging or novel capabilities
• Support system-of-systems T&E, identify gaps, and propose innovative solutions

Required Skills/Experience areas include:

• Developing and executing test plans and system verification activities
• Strong understanding of systems engineering and V&V principle
• Hands‑on experience with instrumentation, data collection, and test equipment
• Ability to assess system performance and communicate findings clearly
• Test documentation and configuration management
• Experience collaborating in multi-disciplinary, team‑oriented cultures

Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Computer, Systems Engineering or related engineering discipline
• Automated test systems, data analysis tools, or scripting (Python, MATLAB)
• Background in testing within aerospace, defense, robotics, power systems, or similar domains
• Test range operations, environmental test standards, or compliance frameworks
• Reliability assessments, failure analysis, or TRRs
• Digital engineering and linking test artifacts to system models/requirements
• Conducting T&E outside controlled laboratory settings
• System or system-of-systems T&E experience inundersea, ground, orair domains

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

Your working location can fully on-site fully to start for training located in State College, PA and then a hybrid of on-site/work from home based on project‐dependent ability.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

If filled as R&D Engineer-Systems (ARL) - Senior Professional, this posi