Department Head – Advanced Optical Systems

Penn State University

Freeport, PA, USA
Base: $109,300.00 - $219,600.00; bonus/equity: not...
Hybrid
Organizational leadership
Employee management
High-impact research projects
Provide organizational leadership to the Advanced Optical Systems Department, including employee management, recruitment, development, and retention

Job Summary

  • Provide organizational leadership to the Advanced Optical Systems Department, including employee management, recruitment, development, and retention.
  • Serve as a principal investigator and program manager, leveraging subject matter expertise in optical systems and applying leadership and systems engineering principles to ensure program success.
  • Conduct basic and applied research in the development, integration, and evaluation of high-performance, novel, and complex optical designs—from concept through deployment—while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, industry partners, and government stakeholders to solve electro-optics challenges and support military and IC customers.

Matching Summary

Provide organizational leadership to the Advanced Optical Systems Department, including employee management, recruitment, development, and retention.

Salary

Base: $109,300.00 - $219,600.00; Bonus/Equity: Not specified; Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, robust retirement plans, substantial paid time off, 75% tuition discount

Skills & Requirements

Must-have

  • organizational leadership
  • employee management
  • high-impact research projects
  • optical systems design
  • prototype electro-optical systems
  • basic and applied research
  • multidisciplinary team collaboration
  • proposal development

Nice-to-have

  • emerging optical design approaches
  • systems engineering experience
  • access to classified information

Key Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in technical field
  • ten years of experience managing projects
  • five years of supervisory or project leadership experience
  • Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
  • 19+ years of relevant experience
  • 5+ years of relevant experience
  • 14+ years of relevant experience

Work Rights

Must have US citizenship

Tailored Resume

Cover Letter