You Will: Support software safety activities throughout the system lifecycle Assess software contributions to system hazards using established system safety processes and methodologies Evaluate software requirements, designs, architectures, interfaces, and test results from a safety perspective Collaborate with software developers and systems engineers to implement and verify software safety requirements Support software safety analyses and certification activities in accordance with MIL-STD-882E, JSSSEH guidance, and program-specific requirement Work with internal safety leads, government Principals for Safety, and NUWC safety engineers to support Navy certification and approval efforts Develop technical safety documentation and support hazard tracking activities Participate in technical reviews, safety working groups, and certification-related engagement Support investigation of anomalies, failures, and software-related safety concerns Contribute to software development, integration, testing, and troubleshooting activities as program requirements and individual expertise align Additional responsibilities for higher-level position includes: Conduct independent and collaborative research, development, testing, and evaluation activities to solve complex scientific and engineering challenges supporting Department of Defense sponsors and national security missions Investigate, evaluate, and apply established and emerging engineering principles, scientific methodologies, and advanced technologies to develop innovative technical solutions Plan, perform, and lead analytical studies, modeling and simulation, laboratory experimentation, field testing, and prototype demonstrations to validate engineering concepts and system performance Design, develop, integrate, analyze, and evaluate complex hardware, software, embedded systems, sensors, communications systems, electromechanical systems, or other mission-critical technologies within assigned technical disciplines Apply systems engineering principles throughout the project lifecycle, including requirements development, architecture definition, design trade studies, integration, verification, validation, risk management, and configuration management Develop experimental plans, test procedures, data collection methodologies, and performance metrics; analyze results to identify technical issues, validate assumptions, and recommend design improvements Support development of advanced prototypes and transition technologies from research concepts into operational capabilities for government sponsors Prepare technical reports, engineering analyses, research publications, white papers, proposals, briefings, and sponsor deliverables documenting research methods, technical findings, and program status Present technical information and research results to sponsors, program managers, technical review boards, and other internal and external stakeholders Required Skills/Experience areas include: Working with software-intensive or mission-critical systems Ability to analyze software requirements, designs, interfaces, and test results to assess technical risks and system behavior Demonstrated systems-thinking and analytical problem-solving skills Collaborating with software, systems, test, and engineering teams throughout the development lifecycle Strong technical communication and documentation skills, including the ability to present technical information to engineering and customer stakeholders Preferred Skills/Experience areas include: Software-intensive or safety-critical systems Software safety, software quality assurance, verification and validation, software testing, systems engineering, or system safety MIL-STD-882E and the Joint Software Systems Safety Engineering Handbook (JSSSEH) Past success supporting hazard analyses, risk assessments, or safety certification activities Developing or reviewing software requirements and verification evidence Working with government customers and technical review boards Past success supporting Navy, DoD, or other mission-critical programs 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 Your working location will be will be fully on-site located in State College, PA. MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS If filled as R&D Engineer - Systems (ARL) - Senior Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 14 years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None If filled as R&D Engineer - Systems (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 5 years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None ARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Intel Community (IC).