Technical Engineering Project Manager (KEYPORT, WA)

About the role

The Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State is searching for an experienced Technical Engineering Project Manager to lead the day-to-day tactical execution of one or more complex technical projects and/or sub-portions of a large program within the Undersea Systems Office.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership and oversight for one or more technical projects and/or sub-portion(s) of a large program in alignment with customer requirements
• Coordinate and communicate with multi-functional teams, including engineering, operations, and support staff, to ensure project milestones are met
• Oversee and support project reviews, ensuring all required technical, managerial, and customer approvals are obtained
• Balance a mix of technical and non-technical program responsibilities, applying both strategic insight and hands-on management
• Support technical reviews, design milestones, and system integration activities by collaborating closely with lead engineers and principal investigators
• Ensure technical deliverables align with sponsor expectations, laboratory capabilities, and broader programmatic goals; track project performance metrics, and provide regular status updates to stakeholders
• Identify and proactively manage risks across technical, schedule, and resource dimensions; develop and maintain mitigation plans
• Support the preparation and delivery of technical presentations, briefings, and status reports to sponsors, leadership, and external collaborators
• Avoid project execution that does not comply with internal policies, customer requirements, and applicable government regulations
• Afford assistance in the transition of research to development or field-ready systems by coordinating planning, demonstrations, and documentation
• Contribute in a technical capacity to projects and/or programs, as needed
• May support proposal preparation by contributing schedule estimates, risk assessments, and technical input as needed
• May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

Requirements

• Significant experience and subject matter expertise with US Navy advanced undersea systems including their acquisition, design, fabrication, testing, operation, and maintenance
• Successful record of project management experience on US Navy programs and strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to support development of engineering concepts into fielded systems
• Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Top Secret/SCI level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• 8+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted

Skills

• Ability to express ideas successfully to drive understanding
• Past success in writing white papers or reports
• Experience collaborating in multi-disciplinary, team-oriented cultures
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems methodically
• Proactive, quality-conscious individual who thrives in customer-facing roles
• Program/Project Management training and/or certification

Benefits

• Salary range: $116,496.00 - $254,100.00
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Robust retirement plans
• Substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time
• 75% tuition discount for employees, eligible spouses, and children

Pay

$116,496.00 - $254,100.00

Schedule

Full-time, on-site location in Keyport, WA

Benefits

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

Contact Information

For further information on ARL, visit our website at www.arl.psu.edu.