Engineering Project Manager

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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 .

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POSITION SPECIFICS ​

The Electro-Optics and Electronics (EOE) Division of the Materials, Manufacturing, and Sustainment Office (MMSO) at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University is seeking a highly motivated and self-starting Engineering Project Manager to support a broad range of projects encompassing multiple technical disciplines and scopes. Our mission is to transition new electro-optics technologies and applications to Navy-selected focus platforms. Since 1999, the Electro-Optics Center has proudly served as the Office of Naval Research’s (ONR) Manufacturing Technology Center of Excellence for Electro-Optics.

You Will:

Financial tracking and reporting: Develop and manage technical and financial status reports, as well as technical data package documentation for internal and external stakeholders; set priorities and recommend changes as needed; assist with detailed labor and cost tracking, including mid-month and end-of-project financial updates, and generate custom reports for external presentations

Reporting and compliance: Assemble and submit regular reporting materials in accordance with sponsor guidelines, including quarterly reports, quad charts, trip reports, and project plan templates; analyze program costs, schedules, and milestones to assess risk and manage changes to program deliverables; this includes regular reporting to ARL project leadership and external collaborators, including government sponsors, and requires the application of independent thinking and advanced problem-solving skills

Track and manage project deliverables: Develop and maintain deliverable tracking charts/schedules, ensuring compliance with sponsor guidelines and timely updates

Vendor and supply chain management : Coordinate vendor activities, including SOWs, RFQs, POs, and delivery schedules, ensuring alignment with project timelines and requirements

Meeting facilitation: Organize and facilitate project meetings, including agenda creation, meeting minutes, and follow-up actions

Stakeholder engagement: Serve as a primary point of contact for Principal Investigators (PIs) and external stakeholders, assisting with day-to-day requests and ensuring deliverables are met on time

Additional responsibilities for higher-level position includes:

Utilize project management strategies for implementing project requirements; collaborate with investigators to develop, execute, and update the project plan; monitor and facilitate technical project execution, milestones, and deliverables

Facilitate communication between sponsors, investigators, resource managers, project engineers, and technical tradesmen; manage and track project schedule, resources, deliverables, and milestones; monitor technical project execution to ensure timely and quality deliverables

Manage stakeholder project and product needs; coordinate with investigators to manage and adhere to sponsor requirements

Facilitate task/project budgets, work breakdowns, rough order estimates, task prioritization, and integration plans with investigators and program managers; coordinate with investigators and financial teams to create project budget baseline; establish and update the project budget

Provide relevant project data including cost and hours input to financial teams to create estimates; review project costs on a regular basis to ensure accuracy in preparation for project close out

Collaborate with financial and property inventory teams to review fabrication costs; ensure correct classification, work breakdowns, and coding in preparation for project close out

Required Skills/Experience:

Microsoft Office applications including Microsoft Project and Visio

Fundamental project management concepts and their application to real-world projects

Financial tracking and reporting, including labor planning and cost analysis

Government contracts, including contract types, funding appropriations, and reporting requirements

Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously

Success in an office environment where strong communication and organizational skills are essential for effectiveness

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification

FFRDC, UARC, or other government laboratories

Managing vendor relationships and supply chain activities

Extensive experience with government contracts, including contract types, funding

For higher level positions: requires the application of independent thinking and advanced problem-solving skills

Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher, and willingness to undergo a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required

This is a hybrid on-site/work from home, project-dependent ability for hybrid work located in Freeport, PA. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

If filled as Engineering Project Adviser (ARL) - Senior Professional, this position requires:
Bachelor's Degree
6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
Required Certifications:
None

If filled as Engineering Project Adviser (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires:
Bachelor's Degree
3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
Required Certifications:
None

ARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Intel Community (IC).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our web site at www.arl.psu.edu .

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL):
Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $68,604.00 - $132,204.00.

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employe