Strategic Requirements and Technical Coordination (SRTC) Research and Development Engineer

About the role

The Research and Development Engineer for the Strategic Requirements and Technical Coordination (SRTC) Department, within the Spectrum and Signatures Solutions Division (S3) under the All-Domain Analytics and Signatures Office (A2SO) of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State, is seeking a leader in technical program and personnel management.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical leadership within the Strategic Requirements and Technical Coordination (STRC) department and, as applicable, direct support to S3 Division and the Lab’s Mission.
• Support the development of technologies and operations to support an extremely sensitive and high-risk sponsor base.
• Maintain awareness of technology expertise across the ARL and actively pair that expertise with sponsors early in the development/design of sensitive technologies.
• Maintain awareness of emergent requirements and needs within the Special Operations, Special Technical, and Intelligence Communities, and pair those requirements with capability providers within ARL.
• Support the geographically displaced Program/Project Management team at multiple sponsor critical locations to include University Park, PA.
• Build and lead comprehensive, high performing and collaborative teams across engineering, scientific, and support personnel in support of Sponsor requirements.
• Build and maintain strong academic, and industry relationships, actively shaping new opportunities and positioning STRC as a critical mission partner across ARL divisions and offices.
• Secure funding and lead interdisciplinary R&D programs from concept to delivery, ensuring technical rigor, mission relevance, and effective communication of program goals, outcomes and resource needs.
• Be prepared to travel as required for sponsor engagements, technology conferences, and potential OCONUS testing and evaluation.
• Manage department operations including strategic planning, budgeting, staffing, and proposal development.
• Foster a culture of excellence, cohesion and professional development; lead comprehensive, high performing and collaborative teams across engineering, scientific, and support personnel; embrace ARL’s mission to discover, demonstrate, transition, and educate.
• Act as Department Head in the absence of the SRTC Deputy Department Head.

Requirements

• Active TS/SCI Security Clearance.
• Deep understanding of the current Strategic Operational Environment, to include DoD guidance and planning.
• Experience working directly for, or within Special Operations, Special Mission, or Intelligence Community units/activities, and the ability to liaise with and through these mission partners.
• Demonstrated leadership in technical program and personnel management, with experience operating in high-growth, mission-driven, and research-oriented environments.
• Experience as a Principal Investigator, Technical Lead, Operational or Compartmented Planner, or senior contributor on applied and basic research efforts to support sensitive activities or special technical delivery.
• Strong executive presence and polished communication skills—able to articulate needs, requirements and impact clearly to diverse audiences in various formats.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex organizational dynamics, navigate conflict, lead through challenges and shape forward-looking strategies.
• Demonstrated strength in business and/or program management capabilities, including experience managing budgets, staffing, performance management, and strategic planning.
• Strong professional demeanor and interpersonal agility, with the ability to work effectively across organizational levels and with external sponsors, collaborators and partners, with a proven ability to establish credibility, influence outcomes, and build trust.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
• 19+ years of relevant experience for Research and Development Engineer - Systems (ARL) - Principal Professional
• 14+ years of relevant experience for Research and Development Engineer - Systems (ARL) - Senior Professional

Skills

• Strategic and technical leadership.
• Technical program and personnel management.
• Leadership in high-growth, mission-driven, and research-oriented environments.
• Executive presence and polished communication skills.
• Complex organizational dynamics, conflict navigation, and strategy shaping.
• Business and/or program management capabilities, including budget, staffing, performance management, and strategic planning.
• Interpersonal agility and credibility building.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Robust retirement plans.
• Substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation, and sick time.
• A generous 75% tuition discount for employees, spouses, and children.

Pay

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $140,004.00 - $265,704.00.

Schedule

The schedule for this position is not specified.

Benefits

• Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL).
• Campus Security Crime Statistics.
• EEO is the Law.
• PA State Labor Law Poster.
• Hotlines.