Systems R&D Engineer

Penn State University; University Park (IL); Hybrid; USD 161,000 - 266,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% tuition discount

Robust retirement plans

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Penn State University, through the Applied Research Laboratory, is seeking a Systems Research and Development Engineer focused on SLAM advisor responsibilities to support Army modular systems integration. The role emphasizes strategic engagement with Army stakeholders, modeling, analytics, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The position requires senior-level advisory experience and a strong background in systems engineering, data analytics, and DoD-related research, with travel to remote

Qualifications

• Experience working with military organizations in senior roles.
• Ability to translate complex requirements into data-driven analytic approaches.
• Engage senior leaders with clear, actionable analysis.
• Experience with systems engineering, analytics, forecasting, or OR.
• Experience developing analytic tools or workflows for decision support.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in fast-moving environments.
• Experience with research in DoD or national security contexts.

Responsibilities

• Serve as ARL’s primary technical and strategic interface to the U.S. Army for land, air, and multi-domain systems.
• Translate Army requirements into actionable engineering, modeling, and analytics tasks.
• Advise Army stakeholders on ARL capabilities in modeling, data analytics, and integration.
• Maintain awareness of Army modernization and identify opportunities for ARL contributions.
• Collaborate with ARL leadership to develop tailored technical responses.
• Support shaping of projects by refining questions and data sources.
• Provide guidance on Army context, decision processes, and constraints.
• Build relationships across Army analytic communities and capability development.
• Assist in program development, including technical scoping and sponsor briefings.

Skills

Senior advisory experience

Systems engineering

Data analytics

Decision analytics

Modeling and simulation

Leadership to junior staff

Communications with Army stakeholders

Security clearance (TS/SCI)

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Science

Tools

Python

R

SQL

Power BI

Job description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

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

Your working location will be a hybrid of on-site/work from home, on-site location is State College, PA. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations.

We are searching for a Systems Research and Development Engineer, emphasized as an Engineering Senior Land, Air, and Multi-Domain Systems (SLAM) Advisor within the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. This position serves as a dedicated senior-level advisor to ARL on all aspects of integration with the U.S. Army (and ground elements of other services), maintaining continuous engagement with Army stakeholders and ensuring ARL’s research, capabilities, and technical expertise directly support Army operational and strategic needs across land, air, cyber, space, analytics, and multi-domain systems. The SLAM Advisor interprets Army problem sets, identifies technology and analysis gaps, and connects them with ARL researchers to deliver timely, high-value solutions in systems engineering, modeling, analytics, and multi-domain integration.

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

You Will:

• Serve as ARL’s primary technical and strategic interface to the U.S. Army for land, air, and multi-domain systems
• Translate Army operational and strategic requirements into actionable systems engineering, modeling, and analytics tasks
• Advise Army stakeholders on ARL capabilities in modeling, data analytics, decision support, and systems integration
• Maintain awareness of Army modernization efforts and identify opportunities for ARL technical contributions
• Collaborate with ARL leadership to develop tailored technical responses and multi-domain integration concept
• Support early shaping of projects by refining questions, aligning data sources, and determining analytic and engineering approaches
• Provide guidance to ARL teams on Army operational context, decision processes, and constraints
• Build relationships across Army analytic communities and capability development enterprise
• Assist in program development activities, including technical scoping and sponsor briefings

Required Skills / Experience Areas Include:

• Past success working with military organizations—preferably the U.S. Army, in senior roles—in technical, analytic, advisory, or systems engineering roles

• Past experience translating complex operational requirements into data-driven analytic approaches or systems engineering models

• Ability to engage senior leaders by presenting clear, actionable analysis

• Technical capabilities in systems engineering, decision analytics, forecasting, automation, or operations research

• Past success developing analytic tools, models, or workflows that improve decision timeliness and clarity

• Navigate multidisciplinary research teams in a fast-moving environment

• Conduct independent and collaborative research, development, testing, and evaluation activities to solve complex scientific and engineering challenges supporting Department of Defense sponsors and national security missions

• Investigate, evaluate, and apply established and emerging engineering principles, scientific methodologies, and advanced technologies to develop innovative technical solutions

• Plan, perform, and lead analytical studies, modeling and simulation, laboratory experimentation, field testing, and prototype demonstrations to validate engineering concepts and system performance

• Design, develop, integrate, analyze, and evaluate complex hardware, software, embedded systems, sensors, communications systems, electromechanical systems, or other mission-critical technologies within assigned technical disciplines

• Apply systems engineering principles throughout the project lifecycle, including requirements development, architecture definition, design trade studies, integration, verification, validation, risk management, and configuration management

• Support research conducted within Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified environments while safeguarding sensitive technical information and government-furnished data

• Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior engineers, engineering technologists, engineering support personnel, interns, and students

• Active security clearance, at the Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) level

Preferred Skills / Experience Areas Include:

• Army educational or modernization institutions

• Technical depth with modern analytic stacks such as Python, R, SQL, Power BI, and modeling workflows

• Past success delivering data-literacy or executive-level technical education programs

• Participate in technology transition activities, including system integration, operational demonstrations, customer evaluations, manufacturing support, and field implementation

• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies to improve program execution, system performance, reliability, maintainability, and mission effectiveness

• Initiate and contribute to business development activities through technical concept development, customer engagement, proposal preparation, Independent Research and Development (IRAD) initiatives, and strategic technology planning

• Present technical information and research results to sponsors, program managers, technical review boards, and other internal and external stakeholders

• Manage technical tasks and engineering projects of varying size and complexity, including responsibility for technical performance, schedules, budgets, deliverables, and risk management

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, software developers, technicians, and external research partners to accomplish program objectives

• Ensure engineering activities comply with applicable sponsor requirements, engineering standards, quality requirements, cybersecurity policies, export control regulations, information assurance requirements, and laboratory security procedures

• Develop experimental plans, test procedures, data collection methodologies, and performance metrics; analyze results to identify technical issues, validate assumptions, and recommend design improvements

• Support development of advanced prototypes and transition technologies from research concepts into operational capabilities for government sponsors

• Prepare technical reports, engineering analyses, research publications, white papers, proposals, briefings, and sponsor deliverables documenting research methods, technical findings, and program status

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s Degree - Engineering or Science19+ years of relevant experienceRequired Certifications:None

ARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Intel Community (IC), and other federal government customers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our website at www.arl.psu.edu .

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL):Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $161,004.00 - $265,704.00.

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.

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.

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