Embedded Software Engineer

Embedded Software Engineer

We are searching for a motivated and technically strong Embedded Software Engineer to join our Embedded Software Department within the Guidance and Control Technologies Division at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University. This position supports the development of advanced autonomous undersea systems and contributes directly to national defense research initiatives.

ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

You will:

• Design, implement, integrate, and test embedded software supporting autonomous vehicle guidance and control, including sensor monitoring, actuator and motor control, and algorithms for signal processing, detection, classification, tracking, and decision-making
• Develop and integrate autonomy-related capabilities such as sensor fusion, perception, and embedded signal-processing pipelines
• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary team to integrate complete embedded software systems and support hardware-in-the-loop testing and bench-level validation
• Prepare documentation, technical reports, and presentations
• Support occasional travel to remote test locations as part of a small engineering and research team

Required skills/experience areas include:

• Writing software for an embedded system
• Proficiency in C or C++ for embedded environments
• Effective interpersonal communication skills, demonstrated through previous success in collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering environments
• Ability to clearly convey technical information in presentations, documentation, and design discussions

Preferred skills/experience areas include:

• Embedded communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, and Ethernet
• Microcontroller programming and low-level embedded development
• Linux experience
• Scripting with Python or MATLAB
• Autonomy-related algorithms such as sensor fusion, Kalman filtering, state estimation, or embedded perception/tracking
• Autonomy frameworks (e.g., ROS 2, MOOS-IvP, JAUS-based middleware)
• Real-time embedded systems or RTOS environments
• Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments or lab-based hardware integration
• Use of AI- or LLM-assisted workflows to improve software development efficiency, code quality, or documentation
• Agile development methods and toolsets such as Atlassian
• Unit testing frameworks
• Current 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 if required

This position will be fully on-site in State College, PA. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations.

Minimum Education, Work Experience & Required Certifications

If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Software (ARL) - Intermediate Professional, this position requires:

• Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
• 2+ years of relevant experience
• Required Certifications: None

If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Software (ARL) - Professional, this position requires:

• Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
• No prior relevant work experience required
• Required Certifications: None

Salary & Benefits

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $92,100.00 - $174,708.00.

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 employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.