{"id":792933,"url":"https://alion.io/job/pennsylvania-state-university-rd-engineer-software-engineer","title":"R&D Engineer: Software Engineer","company":{"id":37673,"name":"Pennsylvania State University","domain":"psu.edu","url":"https://alion.io/company/psu-edu","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":76,"open_postings":291,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.969,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":36,"computed_at":"2026-10-02T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":92100,"max":200808,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":200808},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":false},{"name":"Docker","optional":false},{"name":"Git","optional":false},{"name":"Java","optional":false},{"name":"Kubernetes","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Rust","optional":false},{"name":"Windows","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-10T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-10","last_verified_at":"2026-10-02T20:16:43Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":23,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":23},"description":"APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:\nCURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.\n\nCURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, pleaselogin to Workday to complete thestudent application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.\n\nIf you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.\n\nApproval 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.\nPOSITION SPECIFICS\nYour working location will be fully on-site in State College, PA, but options exist for limited hybrid of on-site/work from home, based on project-dependent ability. This role requires frequent travel to sponsor locations in the Beltway area and to associate contractor and second party locations within and outside the continental United States. Trip lengths may be up to 2 weeks in duration.\nWe are searching for analytical software engineers to join the Strategic Systems Operation Division within the Information Advantage Office at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. This role will focus on software implementation, test, and productization.\nARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.\nYou will:\nApply your expertise in software to contribute to programs of national or international impact by identifying emerging challenges, research trends, and future opportunities\n\nEnsure technical excellence and on-time completion of all project tasks\n\nDevelop and deliver clear updates on program status to Fleet-level personnel at both individual and community meetings\n\nInteract and collaborate regularly with the engineering team, principal investigator, sponsors, and other stakeholders\n\nEmbrace ARL’s mission to discover, demonstrate, transition, and educate while contributing as a key member of a multi-disciplinary engineering team\n\nRequired Skills/Experience areas include:\nProficiency in one or more modern programming languages such as Python, C++, Java, or Rust\n\nAbility to design, implement, and maintain high-quality, scalable software solutions across the full development lifecycle\n\nStrong understanding of software development principles, including object-oriented design, modular architecture, and version control\n\nExperience developing, testing, and maintaining software in Linux and/or Windows environments\n\nWorking knowledge of modern development tools (Git, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing frameworks)\n\nKnowledge of data structures, algorithms, and performance optimization\n\nExperience with cloud platforms, distributed systems, or container technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)\n\nAbility to produce clear, maintainable, and well-documented code\n\nSystematic troubleshooting of operating systems and input-output debugging\n\nUnderstanding of the network protocol stack\n\nPrior success collaborating with product owners, researchers, system engineers, and other stakeholders to translate requirements into well-architected technical designs\n\nPreferred Skills/Experience areas include:\nSuccess in environments where various forms of communication and organizational skills were crucial to be effective\n\nDemonstrated capacity to balance detail-oriented thinking while maintaining the ability to see the “big picture”\n\nDemonstrated experience supporting transitional efforts\n\nCurrent eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility to the TS/SCI level\n\nBachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree in Computer Engineering or Computer Science\n\nMINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS\nIf filled as R&D Engineer - Software (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires:\nBachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science\n5+ years of relevant experience\nRequired Certifications:\nNone\n\nIf filled as R&D Engineer - Software (ARL) - Intermediate Professional, this position requires:\nBachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science\n2+ years of relevant experience\nRequired Certifications:\nNone\n\nIf filled as R&D Engineer - Software (ARL) - Professional, this position requires:\nBachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science\nNo prior relevant work experience required\nRequired Certifications:\nNoneARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Intel Community (IC), and other federal government customers.\nFOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our website atwww.arl.psu.edu.\nBACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES\nEmployment 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):\nEmployees 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\nThe salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $92,100.00 - $200,808.00.Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure\nPenn 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 employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.\nCAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS\nPursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.\nEEO IS THE LAW\nPenn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.\nFederal Contractors Labor Law Poster\nPA State Labor Law Poster\nPenn State Policies\nCopyright Information\nHotlines","description_format":"text","description_chars":7333,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Hybrid work","Retirement plans"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Education","Higher Education"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-12T04:04:22Z"}],"liveness":{"score":56,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.617,"p_room":0.9,"age_days":22,"expected_fill_days":36,"reasons":["conf:13","stale_co","wave","velocity","win:mid","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-02T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":200808,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/pennsylvania-state-university-rd-engineer-software-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/pennsylvania-state-university-rd-engineer-software-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-03T04:36:05Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":4812,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":188,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-04T00:00:00Z"}}}