Penn State University is seeking an early-career Engineering Project Manager to join the Fluid Dynamics and Acoustics Office at the Applied Research Laboratory. This role involves supporting research programs and laboratory operations while collaborating with a team of engineers and senior project managers.
Responsibilities
- Directly support project financial management, including proposals, budgets, forecasts, and reporting
- Create and monitor work breakdown structures and expenses
- Identify, address, and escalate roadblocks
- Build schedules, communicate with the project team, and facilitate meetings and internal processes
- Gather, ship, and archive research data and deliverables
- Execute and track lab material and software purchases by maintaining records, monitoring order status, and coordinating with vendors
- Build and maintain networks across the office, the lab, and Penn State
- Independently manage project financials for efforts with increased scope or complexity
- Proactively assess risks and roadblocks, recommend mitigation strategies, and drive resolution in coordination with the Principal Investigator and stakeholders
- Facilitate cross-functional coordination, ensuring alignment across engineering and business service teams
- Resolve purchasing issues and ensure material ETAs align with project schedules
- Contribute to process improvement efforts by refining templates and identifying opportunities to streamline project management processes within the team
Skills
- 1+ years of experience contributing to project management activities in an engineering, manufacturing, or research environment
- Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
- Demonstrated initiative and willingness to take on increasing responsibility
- A customer-focused mindset
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Project or similar tools)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies
- All positions at ARL require candidates to possess the ability to obtain a government security clearance; you will be notified during the interview process if this position is subject to a government background investigation
- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply
- Employment with the ARL will require successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen
- 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
- Part fabrication processes
- Knowledge of materials used in a research lab and familiarity with engineering software
- PSUBuy (or similar systems)
- Active project management certification or training (e.g., CAPM, PMP)
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
Company Overview
- There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. It was founded in 1855, and is headquartered in University Park, pa, US, with a workforce of 10001+ employees. Its website is http://psu.edu.