Undersea Systems Test Engineer – Verification & T&E

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University; State College (Centre County); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University seeks highly motivated Systems Engineers to join the Systems Engineering Department in the Undersea Systems Office. This role covers 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 and testing of prototype systems.

Your collaboration with ARL program management, subsystem leads, program sponsors, and external T&E

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.
• Minimum: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Science with 2+ years of relevant experience.

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

Systems engineering

V&V principles

Test planning

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Automated test systems

Data analysis tools

Job description

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University seeks highly motivated Systems Engineers to join the Systems Engineering Department in the Undersea Systems Office. This role covers 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 and testing of prototype systems.

Your collaboration with ARL program management, subsystem leads, program sponsors, and external T&E