Division Head, Guidance and Control Technology

We are seeking a Division Head for the Guidance and Control Technologies (GCT) Division of the Undersea Systems Office (USO) at the Penn State University Applied Research Laboratory. The GCT Division serves as a research center of excellence in autonomous guidance systems for undersea weapons and uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs), focusing on advancements in sensing and tactical decision-making technologies as well as efficient integration and implementation of these technologies in real-time systems.

The GCT Division consists of four departments:
Signal Processing, Tactical and Autonomous Processing, Applications Software, and Embedded Software. The Division Head will report directly to the Head of the Undersea Systems Office. The Division Head position may be filled as either a non-tenure Research Faculty or a Research and Development Engineer commensurate with the candidate’s education and experience.

• Lead a team of fifty scientists and engineers across four departments engaged in the research, development, implementation, integration, and testing of complex undersea guidance systems, including acoustic signal processing, tracking, classification, data fusion, vehicle autonomy and tactics design, and embedded, real-time software implementation and testing.
• Develop and maintain division-wide technical expertise in core disciplines from early development through transition to sponsors.
• Work closely with the Office leadership team to build and maintain trusted relationships with key sponsors and stakeholders, ensuring delivery of superior research products and developing and executing strategic initiatives.
• Lead the development of proposals and projects that further knowledge and expertise in autonomous guidance systems.
• Provide project updates to sponsors and stakeholders and lead the development of new business for potential sponsors.
• Collaborate with engineers in technical areas across USO and ARL.
• Oversee the planning, staffing, and execution of programs to ensure all divisional staff are appropriately tasked at all times.
• Provide a mix of high-level project management, engineering oversight, and technical expertise related to acoustic signal processing, vehicle autonomy/tactics, and embedded real-time software.
• Coordinate research and development activities between disciplines involving exploration, definition of scope, and identification of problems for investigation.
• Recruit, develop, and retain extraordinary R&D engineering staff and faculty.

• Principal Investigator, technical lead, or senior contributor on applied research efforts with a record of securing and sustaining external funding in underwater acoustics, signal processing, autonomous decision-making, and software development.
• Leading individual and multi-disciplinary portfolios of research projects including developing technical concepts, writing winning proposals, staffing, conducting research, managing budgets, and delivering high‑quality results.
• Leading a research organization, including planning and managing labor across projects, managing research budgets, and hiring, coaching, and mentoring employees.
• Coordination across units to ensure rigorous execution, sound research and engineering practices, and the highest standards of technical work.
• Superior written and oral communication skills.
• Experience with DoD, Navy, and industrial research funding activities.
• Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher; candidates may also be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility if required.

Your work location will be fully on‑site in State College, PA. This position requires periodic travel to remote locations to support testing as part of a small team of researchers, engineers, and technologists.

• Research and Development Engineer – Principal Professional
  :
  Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Science; 19+ years of relevant experience; no required certifications.
• Research and Development Engineer – Senior Professional
  :
  Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Science; 14+…