Systems & Robotics Engineer
About The Position
The Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State is seeking highly motivated Systems & Robotics Engineers to join the Autonomy and Emerging Technology (AET) Department. The AET Department is ARL’s innovation hub for developing and evaluating advanced capabilities in the Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW) mission space. This role will focus on the intersection of autonomy, underwater robotics, and prototype system integration to rapidly transition new technologies to Navy sponsors. The team is expanding to support the SSW mission area. ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply. This position is located in State College, PA, and requires periodic travel to remote locations. The role involves developing and integrating autonomy architectures for UxVs, designing and testing novel SSW payloads, sensors, navigation solutions, and undersea effectors. It also includes contributions to mission analysis, system architecture, and deployment strategies. Collaboration with a multidisciplinary team covering undersea navigation, endurance optimization, acoustic communications, environmental modeling, and autonomy-enabled CONOPS is expected. Building prototype architectures using SIL and HIL environments and conducting field testing with unmanned platforms in representative maritime conditions are key responsibilities. Additionally, regular interaction and collaboration with the software team, project lead, and other collaborators throughout the lab are required. Additional responsibilities for higher-level positions include managing technical tasks and engineering projects, ensuring engineering activities comply with sponsor requirements and standards, supporting research in various environments, participating in technology transition activities, identifying and mitigating technical risks, initiating and contributing to business development, and mentoring junior engineers. 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, and personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
Requirements
- Systems engineering applied to complex hardware/software systems
- Strong analytical skills and ability to work across disciplines
- Practical experience with Agile software/system development
- Testing and evaluating systems and subsystems
- System architecture for integrated robotic or autonomous systems
- Active security clearance, at the Secret level or higher
- Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
- U.S. citizen
Nice To Haves
- UxV / Undersea Systems
- UxVs, including platforms, payloads, launch and recovery, acoustic communications, and energy management
- Oceanography, seabed features, or environmental data for autonomy
- Prior support to Navy missions or UxV fleet experimentation
- Autonomy and Mission Technologies
- Autonomy development (behaviors, mission planning, architectures, standards)
- Navigation for GPS denied environments
- Sensor integration, payload delivery methods, undersea effectors
- Counter UxV research or applications
- Modeling, Simulation, and Evaluation
- MBSE tools (Cameo, MagicDraw, etc.)
- Development or use of UxV simulation frameworks
- Maritime test and evaluation of unmanned platforms
Responsibilities
- Develop and integrate autonomy architectures for UxVs
- Design and test novel SSW payloads, sensors, navigation solutions, and undersea effectors
- Contribute to mission analysis, system architecture, and deployment strategies
- Work within a multidisciplinary team covering undersea navigation, endurance optimization, acoustic communications, environmental modeling, and autonomy enabled CONOPS
- Build prototype architectures using SIL and HIL environments
- Conduct field testing with unmanned platforms in representative maritime conditions
- Interact and collaborate regularly with software team, project lead and other collaborators throughout the lab
- Manage technical tasks and engineering projects of varying size and complexity, including responsibility for technical performance, schedules, budgets, deliverables, and risk management (for higher-level positions)
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, software developers, technicians, and external research partners to accomplish program objectives (for higher-level positions)
- Ensure engineering activities comply with applicable sponsor requirements, engineering standards, quality requirements, cybersecurity policies, export control regulations, information assurance requirements, and laboratory security procedures (for higher-level positions)
- Support research conducted within Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified environments while safeguarding sensitive technical information and government-furnished data (for higher-level positions)
- Participate in technology transition activities, including system integration, operational demonstrations, customer evaluations, manufacturing support, and field implementation (for higher-level positions)
- Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies to improve program execution, system performance, reliability, maintainability, and mission effectiveness (for higher-level positions)
- 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 (for higher-level positions)
- Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior engineers, engineering technologists, engineering support personnel, interns, and students (for higher-level positions)
- Maintain technical expertise through continued professional development, participation in technical working groups, awareness of emerging technologies, and engagement with the defense research community (for higher-level positions)
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Robust retirement plans
- Substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time
- 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
