Secure Systems Research and Development Engineer
The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University is seeking a self-motivated Secure Systems Research and Development Engineer to join their Cyberspace Operations Research Department. This role involves researching secure system design and implementation, leveraging software engineering and cybersecurity expertise, and maintaining relationships with sponsors while leading various projects.
Responsibilities
- Research cutting edge techniques and technologies for secure system design, implementation, and hardening
- Leverage expertise in software engineering, system administration, and cybersecurity to address established needs and investigate solutions to emerging requirements
- Assist the Cyberspace Operations Research Department Head in maintaining relationships with sponsors through on-site technical discussions, preparation and presentation of technical materials, and project-related correspondence
- Provide process enhancement for technical controls implementation, architectural enhancements, and security test and evaluation projects
- Apply project management principles and methods to the leadership of tasks or projects
- Provide guidance to lower-level R&D Engineers to foster professional growth
- Understand broad strategic objectives and contribute to them; nurture and maintain relationships with major customers/grantors of external research and development grant funding
- Identify grant/project follow-on work and persuade customers / grantors to fund; impact customer decisions and strategies
- Initiate new project concepts and seek funding; develop technical proposals, and make presentations to customers/grant sponsors
- Mentor department staff in the development technical, project, and business development skills
Skills
- Documented application of software engineering or system engineering principles
- Embedded or cloud system development and secure configuration
- Computer networking fundamentals, Windows and NIX operating system administration
- Software programming, programming languages, and development environments (to include at a minimum C, Java, and Python)
- Knowledge of cybersecurity testing / penetration testing tools and methodologies
- Ability to express technical information clearly and concisely in documents and presentations for senior leaders to successfully comprehend and leverage for decision making
- Active government security clearance at SECRET level
- Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
- 5+ years of relevant experience (if filled as Research and Development Engineer - Advanced Professional)
- 2+ years of relevant experience (if filled as Research and Development Engineer - Intermediate Professional)
- No prior relevant work experience required (if filled as Research and Development Engineer - Professional)
- AI to security testing, evaluation, and issue mitigation / remediation
- Microcontroller or single board computer design/implementation (i.e. Arduino, STM32, Raspberry Pi, etc), radio frequency signal analysis (i.e. oscilloscopes, SpecAns, SDRs, etc), or industrial control system communication protocol security
- Demonstrated history of successful project initiation efforts
- Automation of cybersecurity testing workflows (e.g. using Ansible playbooks)
- Agile software development methodology and tools
- Atlassian products (e.g., JIRA, Confluence)
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Robust retirement plans
- Substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time
- Generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children
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