Engineering Project Manager

Position Overview Engineering Project Manager – Senior/Advanced Professional position in the Fluid Dynamics and Acoustics Office (FDAO) of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. Serve as a key project lead, coordinating high‑impact research initiatives, aligning technical objectives with execution strategies, and partnering closely with Principal Investigators (PIs). Responsibilities Engage with PIs and engineering/technical task teams to translate technical objectives into actionable project plans, maintaining sponsor alignment Lead or assist in the management of technical research projects from initiation to closeout Use internal systems for budget tracking, fiscal accountability, and scheduling Act as liaison to ARL departments, offices, and external sponsors Manage risks, resources, schedules, deliverables, and communications across multiple projects Additional Responsibilities for Higher Level Position Implement project requirements using proven project management strategies Collaborate with investigators to develop, execute, and update project plans Facilitate technical project execution, milestones, and deliverables Coordinate sponsor, investigator, resource manager, project engineer, and technical tradesmen communication Track project schedule, resources, deliverables, and milestones, ensuring timely and quality deliverables Manage stakeholder project and product needs, ensuring adherence to sponsor requirements Facilitate task/project budgets, work breakdowns, rough order estimates, task prioritization, and integration plans Coordinate with investigators and financial teams to create project budget baselines and updates Provide project data (cost and hours) to financial teams for budgeting and closeout accuracy Collaborate with financial and property inventory teams to review fabrication costs and ensure correct classification Required Skills & Experience Engineering or Science discipline degree Demonstrated success leading projects in a manufacturing or research environment Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project or similar) Past success in delivering quality results with minimal supervision Strong problem‑solving skills, using systematic steps to define and formulate solutions Preferred Skills & Experience Experience as a Principal Investigator (PI) on projects Experience with Agile methodologies Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher (or willing to be subject to a background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility) Active project management certification/training (e.g., PMP, PMI‑ACP, CSM, PSM) Education & Experience Senior Professional: Bachelor’s Degree + 6+ years of relevant experience (or equivalent combination) – no required certifications. Advanced Professional: Bachelor’s Degree + 3+ years of relevant experience (or equivalent combination) – no required certifications. Salary & Benefits Salary range: $91,488.00 – $154,452.00. Penn State provides comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage; robust retirement plans; paid time off, holidays, vacation, and sick leave; and a generous 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible families. EEO Statement Penn 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr