Systems Manufacturing Department Head

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants. ​  POSITION SPECIFICS​We are seeking a Department Head for the Systems Manufacturing Department (SMD) of the Materials, Manufacturing, and Sustainment Office (MMSO) at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University. This position may be filled as either a Research and Development Engineer or a non-tenure Research Faculty member.The Systems Manufacturing Department is a newly established organization dedicated to bridging the critical gap between laboratory innovation and full-scale production and lifecycle capabilities. Its mission is to enable the transition of system-level designs from laboratory prototypes to scalable, industry-led full-rate production through advanced manufacturing methods and tools. The department leverages data-driven approaches to improve the manufacturing and lifecycle maintenance of DoD systems and delivers tools to enhance manufacturing efficiency across key portions of the Defense Industrial Base.ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.You will:Contribute to the design, development, implementation, and analysis of technical engineering products, systems, and subsystemsManage department budgets, resources, and capital equipment investmentsProvide strategic vision and technical direction for the department’s research and development portfolioBuild, mentor, and lead a diverse team of engineers, scientists, and technical staffCommunicate technical achievements and capabilities to senior leadership and external partnersEnsure the quality and rigor of technical deliverables and research outputsGuide the development of lifecycle maintenance and sustainment solutionsApply standard practices and techniques in specific situations; correlate data, recognize discrepancies in results, and follow operations through a series of detailed steps or processesConduct experiments and tests in laboratory and field environments to validate or refine theoretical concepts. This may include taking measurements, recording observations, collecting and processing data, and planning or designing experiments while supervising execution.Initiate or contribute data, analysis, and design content for technical reports, proposals, publications, and presentationsAdditional responsibilities for higher-level positions include:Support the development of a comprehensive roadmap for manufacturing technology transition initiativesIdentify critical manufacturing challenges affecting DoD systems and the Defense Industrial BaseLead the development of data-driven planning and manufacturing solutions, including digital manufacturing toolsEstablish technical partnerships with industry, academia, and other government organizationsBuild strategic relationships with Defense Industrial Base stakeholders, including shipyards and suppliersCoordinate with other laboratory departments to ensure integrated solutionsProvide technical oversight and guidance on advanced manufacturing methods and toolsRequired skills/experience areas include: Demonstrated success leading individual research projects and portfolios, including developing technical concepts, writing proposals, staffing projects, conducting research, managing budgets, and delivering high-quality resultsDeep knowledge of advanced manufacturing technologies and methodologies, including digital manufacturing and data analytics conceptsManufacturing challenges in complex systems (e.g., maritime, aerospace)Ability to express ideas successfully to drive understanding Demonstrated success in writing white papers or reportsDemonstrated success leading teams of engineers and scientists, and collaborating across large, multidisciplinary, multi-organization projectsCurrent eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher; candidates may be subject to a government background investigation to obtain or upgrade clearance eligibility, if requiredYour work location will be fully on-site in State College, PA. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations. MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONSIf filled as Research and Development Engineer - Principal Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 19+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Advanced Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 5+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Senior Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 14+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None ARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Intel Community (IC). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our website at www.arl.psu.edu. BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCESEmployment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. All positions at ARL require candidates to possess the abil