Strategic Systems Operation Division Head (Faculty)

About the role

We are seeking a Division Head for the Strategic Systems Operations Division (SSO) to join the Information Advantage Office of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. SSO specializes in delivering 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 will report directly to the Head of the Information Advantage Office and will be responsible for managing the division’s research engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel. This position will be filled as either a Research and Development Engineer or a non‑tenure Research Faculty. ARL is an authorized DoD Skill Bridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

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

• Master's degree in an engineering or science discipline
• Minimum of 10 years of related experience
• Active TS/SCI security clearance
• U.S. citizenship
• Eligibility to successfully complete a background check per University policy
• Willingness to participate in the ARL drug testing program
• Compliance with electronic and physical monitoring requirements for federal contractors
• Ability to work in a secure environment handling Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information, including registering personal electronic devices brought onsite

Skills

• Demonstrated leadership in technical program and personnel management, with