Strategic Systems Operation Division Head
About the role
Hybrid on-site/work from home position with on-site location in State College, PA. The Division Head for the Strategic Systems Operations Division (SSO) will join the Information Advantage Office of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. SSO delivers systems, products and information to leading edge DoD and IC operations worldwide and consists of four departments: Signals Prototyping; Trusted Systems Engineering; Signals Implementation; National Programs Solutions. The Division Head reports directly to the Head of the Information Advantage Office and manages the division’s research engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel. The role may be filled as a Research and Development Engineer or a non‑tenure Research Faculty. ARL is an authorized DoD Skill Bridge partner and welcomes transitioning military members.
Responsibilities
- Provide strategic and technical leadership for the Strategic Systems Division (SSO), guiding its emergence as a new division onto ARL’s, Penn State’s, and the broader national security landscape
- Build and lead comprehensive, high performing and collaborative teams across engineering, scientific, and support personnel; foster a culture of excellence, cohesion and professional development
- Lead interdisciplinary R&D programs from concept to delivery, ensuring technical rigor, mission relevance, and effective communication of program goals, outcomes and resource needs
- Manage division operations including strategic planning, budgeting, staffing, facilities challenges, proposal development, and risk mitigation to ensure growth is both sustainable and aligned
- Build and maintain strong sponsors, academic, and industry relationships, actively shaping new opportunities and positioning SSO as a central contributor to ARL’s future
- Represent the division—and as needed, the larger organization— through polished, executive level engagement with sponsors, ARL leadership, university stakeholders and strategic partners
- Lead, manage and continuously improve professional development, training and onboarding
Requirements
- Active TS/SCI Security Clearance
- Demonstrated