Undersea Systems Project Manager – Technical Lead (Keyport)

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 116,496 - 254,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% tuition discount

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University is seeking a Technical Engineering Project Manager to lead day-to-day tactical execution of complex technical projects within the Undersea Systems Office. This on-site role is based in Keyport, WA, with travel to remote locations as needed.

We require a strong technical foundation, significant Navy program experience, and Top Secret/SCI eligibility. You will coordinate multi-functional teams, manage milestones, reviews, and risk while

Qualifications

• Significant experience and subject matter expertise with US Navy advanced undersea systems including their acquisition, design, fabrication, testing, operation, and maintenance
• Successful record of project management experience on US Navy programs and strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to support development of engineering concepts into fielded systems
• Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Top Secret/SCI level or higher

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership and oversight for one or more technical projects and/or sub-portion(s) of a large program in alignment with customer requirements
• Coordinate and communicate with multi-functional teams, including engineering, operations, and support staff, to ensure project milestones are met
• Oversee and support project reviews, ensuring all required technical, managerial, and customer approvals are obtained
• Balance a mix of technical and non-technical program responsibilities, applying both strategic insight and hands‑on management
• Support technical reviews, design milestones, and system integration activities by collaborating closely with lead engineers and principal investigators
• Ensure technical deliverables align with sponsor expectations, laboratory capabilities, and broader programmatic goals; track project performance metrics, and provide regular status updates to stakeholders
• Identify and proactively manage risks across technical, schedule, and resource dimensions; develop and maintain mitigation plans
• Support the preparation and delivery of technical presentations, briefings, and status reports to sponsors, leadership, and external collaborators
• Ensure project execution complies with internal policies, customer requirements, and applicable government regulations
• Assist with the transition of research to development or field‑ready systems by coordinating planning, demonstrations, and documentation
• Contribute in a technical capacity to projects and/or programs, as needed
• May support proposal preparation by contributing schedule estimates, risk assessments, and technical input as needed
• May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

Skills

US Navy undersea systems

Project management

Communication skills

Top Secret/SCI eligibility

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University is seeking a Technical Engineering Project Manager to lead day-to-day tactical execution of complex technical projects within the Undersea Systems Office. This on-site role is based in Keyport, WA, with travel to remote locations as needed.

We require a strong technical foundation, significant Navy program experience, and Top Secret/SCI eligibility. You will coordinate multi-functional teams, manage milestones, reviews, and risk while