Research and Development Engineer

The Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at The Pennsylvania State University is an integral part of one of the leading research universities in the nation and serves as a university center of excellence in defense science and technologies. ARL has been supporting the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) objective to engage the university community to provide innovative technology solutions to the Department of Defense (DoD).

ARL has recently been awarded a task under the University Strategic Partnership (USP) contract that is specifically targeted at defining and establishing the processes by which the DTRA Research and Development Enterprise, Basic and Applied Sciences Directorate (RD-BA) can effectively develop and transition technology from basic and/or early applied research to applied and/or operational stakeholders. The job available in the Materials and Manufacturing Office at ARL is for the Director of this DTRA Technology Transition Office. The Director will be the key individual responsible for structuring and managing a technology transition process that may ultimately span across the DTRA organization. The Director will work with appropriate leadership, the technical staff of the Basic and Applied Sciences (BA) directorate and the DTRA Enterprises to define basic research requirements, identify research areas of interest that address those needs and facilitate transition of selected basic and applied research to Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) stakeholders.
In addition, the Director will define a process for assessing and managing evaluations of the technical maturity of DTRA basic research projects and provide supporting documentation for the transition of selected research efforts. The Director may also serve as a spokesperson for the research needs of RD-BA within the university community for selected events and, as needed, stimulate innovative research ideas in areas relevant for DTRA’s CWMD needs. This job will be filled as a level 3, level 4 or level 5, depending upon the successful candidate’s education and experience. Minimum educational and work-related experience requirements are: Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering or Science field plus five years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. This job requires a self-starter who has: strong program management credentials; a demonstrated expertise in CWMD technology and system engineering; excellent team building and communication skills; and creative thinking skills. A working knowledge of DTRA’s organization and familiarity with key leadership are advantageous for success in this role. These duties will require the Director to be primarily located at DTRA headquarters in Fort Belvoir, VA with extensive travel to State College, PA and Albuquerque, NM during the first year. A candidate living outside the DC area who is willing to commute will also be considered. Candidate selected will be subject to a government security investigation. You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply. This is a one-year, fixed-term renewable appointment.