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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 searching for a motivated and technically strong Embedded Software Engineer to join our Embedded Software Department within the Guidance and Control Technologies Division at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University. This position supports the development of advanced autonomous undersea systems and contributes directly to national defense research initiatives.

ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

You will:

Design, implement, integrate, and test embedded software supporting autonomous vehicle guidance and control, including sensor monitoring, actuator and motor control, and algorithms for signal processing, detection, classification, tracking, and decision‑making
Develop and integrate autonomy‑related capabilities such as sensor fusion, perception, and embedded signal‑processing pipelines
Collaborate within a multidisciplinary team to integrate complete embedded software systems and support hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing and bench‑level validation
Prepare documentation, technical reports, and presentations
Support occasional travel to remote test locations as part of a small engineering and research team

Required skills/experience areas include:

Writing software for an embedded system
Proficiency in C or C++ for embedded environments
Effective interpersonal communication skills, demonstrated through previous success in collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering environments
Ability to clearly convey technical information in presentations, documentation, and design discussions

Preferred skills/experience areas include:

Embedded communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, and Ethernet
Microcontroller programming and low‑level embedded development
Linux experience
Scripting with Python or MATLAB
Autonomy‑related algorithms such as sensor fusion, Kalman filtering, state estimation, or embedded perception/tracking
Autonomy frameworks (e.g., ROS 2, MOOS‑IvP, JAUS‑based middleware)
Real‑time embedded systems or RTOS environments
Hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) environments or lab‑based hardware integration
Use of AI‑ or LLM‑assisted workflows to improve software development efficiency, code quality, or documentation
Agile development methods and toolsets such as Atlassian
Unit testing frameworks
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

This position will be fully on‑site in State College, PA. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Software (ARL) - Intermediate Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 2+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Software (ARL) - Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science No prior relevant work experience required Required Certifications: None

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL): Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $92,100.00 - $174,708.00.

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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