Strategic Systems Operation Division Head (Faculty)

About the role

The position is a hybrid role with on‑site work in State College, PA and remote work possibilities. The Division Head will lead the Strategic Systems Operations Division (SSO) within 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 comprises four departments: Signals Prototyping; Trusted Systems Engineering; Signals Implementation; and National Programs Solutions. The Division Head reports directly to the Head of the Information Advantage Office and oversees 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 member. ARL is an authorized DoD Skill Bridge partner and welcomes transitioning military applicants. ARL’s mission is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Intelligence Community, and other federal government customers.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical leadership for SSO, guiding its emergence as a new division within ARL, Penn State, 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 sustainable growth aligned with objectives.
• 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,