Research and Development Systems Engineer

Penn State University is seeking a highly motivated Systems Engineer to join their Applied Research Laboratory's Mission Systems Department. The role involves leading and managing test and evaluation activities for advanced systems, collaborating with stakeholders to ensure project success, and mentoring junior engineers.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage, test, and evaluate activities for advanced and complex systems
• Engage and collaborate independently with project sponsors and organizational stakeholders to understand requirements, align objectives, and ensure project success
• Plan, coordinate, and execute flight test programs and campaigns
• Develop test plans, procedures, and evaluation criteria for complex systems
• Support analysis of alternative solutions, gaps analysis, and trade-space analysis
• Evaluate and ensure validation of system requirements with test objectives
• Coordinate across engineering disciplines with internal and external collaborators
• Project management and supervision/mentorship of junior engineers
• Indirect supervision and mentorship of other engineers
• Monitoring and tracking of funding and budgets
• Work independently on complex assignments, review progress, and evaluate results
• Lead communications with external audiences for scheduling, coordination, and business purposes
• Represent the organization in technical exchanges and program reviews

Requirements:

• Technical background in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering
• 15+ years of experience managing or supervising flight tests for advanced and complex systems
• Demonstrated success in planning and executing complex test programs from concept through completion
• Test and evaluation of complex systems utilized by the Department of the Navy or Department of Defense
• Proven ability to work independently with minimal oversight while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships
• Past success effectively coordinating and collaborating with diverse project sponsors and organizational stakeholders
• Developing and maintaining a strategy and vision to achieve test and evaluation objectives
• Past success in writing white papers and proposals to pursue projects
• Demonstrated success presenting technical findings to senior leadership and decision-makers
• Ability to express ideas successfully to drive understanding
• Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required
• Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
• 19+ years of relevant experience (if filled as Research and Development Engineer - Systems (ARL) - Principal Professional)
• 14+ years of relevant experience (if filled as Research and Development Engineer - Systems (ARL) - Senior Professional)
• Modeling & Simulation as applied to test and evaluation
• Past success with Mission Engineering, Concepts of Operations, and other related technologies
• Data acquisition systems, instrumentation, and telemetry
• Model Based Systems Engineering training and experience
• Systems engineering fundamentals and project management methodologies
• MATLAB, data analysis tools, or systems modeling software
• Previous success in multi-disciplinary, team-oriented culture