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Secure Systems Research and Development Engineer

Penn State University
University Park, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 8 Jul 2026
💰 $200,808/yr($92,100/yr$200,808/yr)

About the role

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

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 self-motivated Secure Systems Research and Development Engineer to join our Cyberspace Operations Research Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State.  The Cyberspace Operations Research Department provides technical expertise in adversarial tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to support system evaluation and provide security hardening support to various sponsors.  

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

You will:

  • Research cutting edge techniques and technologies for secure system design, implementation, and hardening

  • Leverage expertise in software engineering, system administration, and cybersecurity to address established needs and investigate solutions to emerging requirements

  • Assist the Cyberspace Operations Research Department Head in maintaining relationships with sponsors through on-site technical discussions, preparation and presentation of technical materials, and project-related correspondence

  • Provide process enhancement for technical controls implementation, architectural enhancements, and security test and evaluation projects

  • Apply project management principles and methods to the leadership of tasks or projects

  • Provide guidance to lower-level R&D Engineers to foster professional growth

Additional responsibilities for higher level position includes:

  • Understand broad strategic objectives and contribute to them; nurture and maintain relationships with major customers/grantors of external research and development grant funding

  • Identify grant/project follow-on work and persuade customers / grantors to fund; impact customer decisions and strategies

  • Initiate new project concepts and seek funding; develop technical proposals, and make presentations to customers/grant sponsors

  • Mentor department staff in the development technical, project, and business development skills

Required skills/experience areas include:

  • Documented application of software engineering or system engineering principles

  • Embedded or cloud system development and secure configuration

  • Computer n

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Company

Penn State University

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