Sustainment Information Systems Software Engineer

The Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State is seeking an experienced Sustainment Systems Research and Development Engineer to join our Sustainment Information Systems Department. ARL’s mission is to deliver innovative engineering and technology solutions in support of the Department of Defense (DoD).

In this role, you will leverage your expertise in Dev Ops, enterprise architectures, digital transformation, and sustainment system software engineering to support applied research in defense applications, with an emphasis on NAVSEA environments and submarine platform support.

ARL is an authorized DoD Skill Bridge partner and welcomes applications from transitioning military members.

• Lead and support the design, development, and deployment of advanced sustainment information systems for defense applications
• Define enterprise information system architectures and implement digital transformation best practices to optimize defense sustainment processes
• Prototype and demonstrate enterprise systems architectures leveraging modern cloud-native and Dev Ops approaches (Kubernetes, Docker, CI/CD pipelines)
• Apply expertise in cloud, container orchestration, and software lifecycle automation to enterprise sustainment challenges
• Investigate and implement emerging technologies to enhance logistics, training, and sustainment systems
• Deliver professional reports and executive-level presentations documenting findings and recommendations
• Contribute to technical proposals, risk assessments, and cost/effort estimates for research initiatives
• Collaborate with government and industry sponsors as well as Penn State faculty on applied research projects
• Mentor junior engineers in software engineering, Dev Ops practices, and project execution

• Lead and mentor a team of engineers in the development and implementation of software systems
• Engage with the sponsor and external collaborators to coordinate the development of complex software systems

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering or related discipline; advanced degree preferred
• 7+ years of professional experience in software engineering, Dev Ops, and enterprise systems development
• Experience deploying solutions in NAVSEA cloud environments
• Experience working with and modernizing current sustainment information systems used by Trident Refitting Facilities
• Proven ability to collaborate with DoD stakeholders to define requirements, evaluate solution paths, and deliver technical capabilities
• Demonstrated success driving digital transformation initiatives using cloud-native architectures and CI/CD automation
• Hands‑on experience with Kubernetes, Docker, Git Lab CI/CD, Helm, and supporting enterprise sustainment platforms
• Background in developing sustainment software solutions for defense applications
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work independently or in multidisciplinary teams

• Certifications in Kubernetes, Azure, Scrum, and Security+ (as held by strong candidates)
• Published research or technical documentation in enterprise sustainment or digital engineering

This position will be fully on‑site located in State College, PA. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process. This position will require periodic travel to remote locations in support of testing as part of a small team of researchers, engineers, and technologists.

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.

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.

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. All positions at ARL require…