Secure Systems Research and Development Engineer
The Pennsylvania State University4 months ago
Reston, VA, USAEntry Level / Mid Level / Senior
Base Salary
$111k - $241k/yr
Responsibilities
- Research techniques and technologies for secure system design, implementation, and hardening.
- Apply software engineering, systems engineering, system administration, and cybersecurity expertise to established and emerging requirements.
- Support sponsor relationships through technical discussions, presentations, and project correspondence.
- Enhance technical-control implementation, architectures, and security test and evaluation projects.
- Apply project management principles to lead tasks and projects.
- Provide guidance and professional-development support to lower-level R&D engineers.
- For higher-level assignments, develop strategic customer relationships, identify and pursue follow-on funding, initiate project concepts, write technical proposals, present to sponsors, and mentor department staff.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or science.
- Relevant experience requirements vary by appointment level: no prior relevant experience for Professional, 2+ years for Intermediate Professional, or 5+ years for Advanced Professional.
- Documented application of software or systems engineering principles.
- Experience with embedded or cloud system development and secure configuration.
- Computer networking fundamentals and Windows and *NIX system administration.
- Programming experience using C, Java, and Python, along with development environments.
- Knowledge of cybersecurity testing, penetration-testing tools, and methodologies.
- Ability to communicate technical information clearly in documents and presentations for senior leaders.
- Active government security clearance at the SECRET level.
- U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain a government security clearance.
- Preferred qualifications include AI applications to security testing, microcontroller or single-board-computer implementation, radio-frequency signal analysis, industrial-control-system protocol security, project initiation, cybersecurity-testing automation, Atlassian products, and Agile software development tools.
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off, including holidays, vacation, and sick time.
- 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible spouses and children.
- Project-dependent work may be on-site or from home, based out of Reston, VA, Annapolis Junction, MD, or State College, PA; remote or hybrid approval is not guaranteed.
- Periodic travel to remote locations is required for testing as part of a small research and engineering team.
- Employment requires background checks, participation in the ARL drug-testing program, and compliance with electronic and physical monitoring requirements.
About The Pennsylvania State University
The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State is a University Affiliated Research Center that delivers contract research, prototyping, and systems engineering for U.S. national security and related sponsors. Its work spans undersea systems, communications, navigation, acoustics, fluid dynamics, and advanced materials and manufacturing. Founded in 1945 and based in State College, Pennsylvania, ARL operates within The Pennsylvania State University and is funded largely through federal contracts and grants.