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POSITION SPECIFICS
Your working location will be fully on-site located in State College, PA.
We are searching for a highly motivated Mechanical Engineer to join The Vehicle Investigation & Cybersecurity Department within the Applied Sustainment Technologies Division at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. We are seeking a senior technical and operational leader to drive sponsor engagement, guide ground vehicle sustainment research, and strengthen ARL’s relationships across the military. This role will support the division’s mission to advance next‑generation sustainment technologies, readiness analytics, vehicle systems resilience, and cyber‑secure maintenance capabilities. The ideal candidate brings deep operational expertise in military ground vehicle operations, direct experience with sustainment engineering, and a track record of shaping, growing, and maintaining sponsor relationships in defense R&D.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You Will:
Lead business development and sponsor engagement for vehicle sustainment and cybersecurity research portfolios
Maintain and expand strategic relationships with military stakeholders, especially within the USMC, Army, and joint logistics communities
Provide subject‑matter expertise on military ground vehicle operations, sustainment processes, and enabling IT systems
Shape research directions by translating operational sustainment challenges into actionable R&D objectives
Support and guide project teams in vehicle investigation, readiness analytics, cyber‑secure maintenance operations, and related technologies
Mentor staff in sponsor engagement, program execution, and operational sustainment concepts
Serve as an advisor on military acquisition pathways and requirements processes relevant to sustainment technologies
Contribute to proposal development, program planning, and strategic road‑mapping for ASTD
Required Skills/Experience areas include:
Senior NCO, Warrant Officer, or Commissioned Officer experience within U.S. military Engineer, Motor Transport, or Ordnance communities
Previous service as a U.S. Marine Corps logistics officer or comparable operational logistics role
Military acquisition process, including requirements development and sustainment integration
Ground vehicle operations, including both vehicle systems and associated IT/logistics support systems
Automotive maintenance, sustainment engineering, or vehicle lifecycle management
Past success developing and maintaining sponsor relationships in defense R&D environments
Ability to clearly communicate complex sustainment challenges and technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences
Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:
Supporting or advising R&D organizations on vehicle sustainment technologies
Cyber considerations for vehicle systems, maintenance processes, or diagnostic tools
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and guiding research portfolios
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, logistics, or related field (military equivalent experience also considered)
Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or…