Systems & Robotics Engineer

About the role

This role is for a Systems & Robotics Engineer in the Autonomy and Emerging Technology (AET) Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. The AET Department serves as ARL’s innovation hub for developing and evaluating advanced capabilities in the Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW) mission space. The position works at 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 transitioning military members. The working location is fully on‑site in State College, PA, with periodic travel to remote locations.

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 and 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
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, software developers, technicians, and external research partners to accomplish program objectives
• Ensure engineering activities comply with applicable sponsor requirements, engineering standards, quality requirements, cybersecurity policies, export control regulations, information assurance requirements, and laboratory security procedures
• Support research conducted within Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified environments while safeguarding sensitive technical information and government‑furnished data
• Participate in technology transition activities, including system integration, operational demonstrations, customer evaluations, manufacturing support, and field implementation
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies to improve program execution, system performance, reliability, maintainability, and mission effectiveness
• 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
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior engineers, engineering technologists, engineering support personnel, interns, and students
• Maintain technical expertise through continued professional development, participation in technical working groups, awareness of emerging technologies, and engagement with the defense research community

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Science
• Depending on the level filled:
  • Intermediate Professional: 2+ years of relevant experience
  • Advanced Professional: 5+ years of relevant experience
  • Senior Professional: 14+ years of relevant experience
• U.S. citizenship required
• Ability to obtain a government security clearance at the Secret level or higher
• Successful completion of background check(s) per University policies
• Eligibility to participate in the ARL drug testing program and comply with electronic and physical