{"id":3530870,"url":"https://alion.io/job/pennsylvania-state-university-signal-processing-research-and-development-engineer-2","title":"Signal Processing Research and Development 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":"C","score":67,"open_postings":987,"ghost_share":0.555,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":39,"computed_at":"2026-11-05T05:54:30Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"staff","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["University Park, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":121704,"max":231000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":231000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":14,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Machine Learning","optional":false},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Git","optional":true},{"name":"Jira","optional":true},{"name":"Speech Recognition","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-30T15:59:54Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-30","last_verified_at":"2026-11-05T23:22:02Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":6,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":5},"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 located in State College, PA. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations\nWe are seeking motivated and experienced Signal Processing Research and Development Engineers to join the Sensor Analysis and Data Modeling (SADM) Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. SADM tackles multidisciplinary topics, from signal processing to machine learning to software design, with a focus on sonar systems. Our department's goal is to leverage acoustic physics and all available data to generate data products and tools that support our military sponsors and our national defense. In this role, you will work closely with senior subject matter experts to develop, analyze, and transition sonar and array signal processing algorithms. You will bring your own technical expertise and expand your knowledge of undersea acoustics.\nARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and encourages transitioning service members to apply.\nYou will:\nDevelop signal processing algorithms - Design, implement, and validate active and passive sonar and array signal processing algorithms, including beamforming and direction-of-arrival estimation\nCollaborate with subject matter experts - Work with senior engineers, scientists, and military personnel to define problems, refine approaches, and integrate expertise from many disciplines\nResearch new approaches - Investigate and evaluate new techniques when solving difficult or novel signal processing problems\nExecute analyses - Evaluate algorithm performance, data quality, and the feasibility of novel approaches using at-sea and simulated data\nSupport field testing - Help plan data collections and provide in-person analysis and troubleshooting\nDeliver and transition results - Communicate findings clearly to stakeholders, scientists, and software engineers both within ARL and at external sponsors\nContribute to technical documentation - Help write technical memos, reports, white papers, and study plans\nAdditional responsibilities for higher-level position includes:\nWorking independently on moderately complex assignments, reviewing progress, and evaluating results\nLeading defined tasks or technical areas within larger projects\nDeveloping new techniques and analysis approaches, and presenting results to sponsors\nTraining and providing technical guidance to junior engineers, and reviewing their work\nMonitoring and tracking task budgets and funding\nContributing technical content to proposals and publications\nRequired skills/experience include:\nPast success working within sonar signal processing or in phased array signal processing in another field (e.g., radar, RF, seismic, or ultrasound)\nSolid foundation in statistical signal processing, including spectral analysis, filtering, and detection and estimation theory\nMATLAB, Python, or C++\nAbility to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team\nStrong written, oral, and interpersonal communication and presentation skills\nPreferred skills/experience include:\nPh.D. in a relevant field\nExperience with phased array processing techniques, such as beamforming and direction-of-arrival estimation\nAnalyzing at-sea data\nUnderwater acoustics, sound propagation, and environmental effects on sonar performance\nTechnical publications, reports, or conference presentations\nVersion control and project-tracking tools such as Git and Jira\nCurrent eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher\nMINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS\nIf filled as R&D Engineer - Signal Processing (ARL) - Senior Professional, this position requires:\nBachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science\n14+ years of relevant experience\nRequired Certifications:\nNone\n\nIf filled as R&D Engineer - Signal Processing (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires:\nBachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science\n5+ years of relevant experience\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 $121,704.00 - $231,000.00.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":7518,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":14,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["DoD SkillBridge","Hybrid work","Retirement plans","Veteran hiring program"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Higher Education"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-30T15:59:54Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":63,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.632,"p_room":1,"age_days":5,"expected_fill_days":39,"reasons":["conf:4","stale_co","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-05T05:54:30Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":231000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/pennsylvania-state-university-signal-processing-research-and-development-engineer-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/pennsylvania-state-university-signal-processing-research-and-development-engineer-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-06T04:34:19Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":7822,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-07T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":37673},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=37673"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fpennsylvania-state-university-signal-processing-research-and-development-engineer-2"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fpennsylvania-state-university-signal-processing-research-and-development-engineer-2"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fpennsylvania-state-university-signal-processing-research-and-development-engineer-2"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/pennsylvania-state-university-signal-processing-research-and-development-engineer-2\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fpennsylvania-state-university-signal-processing-research-and-development-engineer-2"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3530870}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"psu.edu","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3530870},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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