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Technical Software Engineer Jobs in State College, PA

Penn State University

Software Engineer

State College, PA · On-site

$109K - $191K/yr

# **APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:*** ## CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or ... We are searching for motivated, talented, and experienced Software Engineers to join the ...

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Technical Software Engineer information

What is the difference between Technical Software Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectTechnical Software EngineerSoftware Developer
CredentialsBachelor's in CS or related, sometimes certificationsBachelor's in CS or related, coding bootcamps
Work EnvironmentCross-functional teams, technical problem-solvingFocus on coding, application development
Industry UsageTech companies, startups, enterpriseTech, finance, healthcare, various sectors
Search IntentTechnical roles, engineering tasksApplication development, coding projects

While both roles involve software development, a Technical Software Engineer typically focuses on technical problem-solving, system architecture, and cross-team collaboration, whereas a Software Developer primarily concentrates on coding and building applications. The roles often overlap, but the Technical Software Engineer's scope includes more technical troubleshooting and system design.

Is 25 too late to become a technical software engineer?

Age is not a barrier to becoming a technical software engineer. Many professionals start coding in their mid-20s or later, and acquiring skills through coding bootcamps, online courses, or degrees can lead to entry-level positions regardless of age.

What is a technical software engineer?

A technical software engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains software systems and applications. They often work with programming languages, development tools, and technical specifications to solve complex problems and improve software performance.

What cities near State College, PA are hiring for Technical Software Engineer jobs?

Cities near State College, PA with the most Technical Software Engineer job openings:

Technical Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Technical Software Engineer job openings in State College, PA as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 33% In-person, and 67% Remote job distribution.

Software Engineer

University Park, PA • On-site

Penn State University
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Penn State Universityexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 11 days ago

Penn State University rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 104 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

236th of 633 rated colleges and universities

Job description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
  • CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
  • CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
  • If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS
We are seeking a Software Engineer to join the Applied Communications team in the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. In this role, you'll implement and integrate advanced algorithms to support cutting-edge research applications addressing critical Department of Defense challenges.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes applications from transitioning military members.
You will:
  • Develop software solutions for cutting-edge research in communications systems
  • Design applications, libraries, interfaces, and device drivers for diverse system-level requirements
  • Implement and test algorithms across multiple domains: underwater, terrestrial, aerial, and space-based platforms
  • Create signal processing software for advanced communication systems
  • Apply your technical expertise to solve complex national security challenges
  • Expand your skills into new and adjacent technology areas

Additional responsibilities of higher-level position includes:
  • Provide technical leadership on software engineering projects
  • Mentor team members in technical skills, project management, and business development
  • Present technical concepts and project updates to external stakeholders and collaborators

Required Skills/Experience areas include:
  • Strong computer science fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, networking, distributed systems, memory management, security, databases, and hardware integration
  • Proficiency in C++ and C with strong object-oriented programming principles
  • High-performance algorithm design
  • Software architecture and infrastructure design expertise
  • Advanced Linux environment proficiency
  • Modern development tools: Git, GitLab, Atlassian suite (JIRA, Confluence, Bamboo, Artifactory, BitBucket, SonarQube)
  • Containerization and orchestration experience with Docker and Kubernetes
  • Understanding of mobile app and front-end UI/UX development
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts
  • Demonstrated problem-solving skills with structured approaches to solution development

Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:
  • Master's degree in Computer Science or related field
  • Management of multiple concurrent projects and priorities
  • Signal processing and algorithm development
  • Cellular and/or wireless communications
  • FPGA programming
  • Database expertise: SQL, NoSQL, and/or Big Data systems
  • MATLAB, Python, and/or Java
  • CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices
  • Translation of business requirements into technical specifications
  • ATAK or WinTAK plug-in development experience
  • Cyber compliance policies and implementation requirements
  • Offline storage, threading, and performance optimization
  • Additional software languages (Rust, Bash, JavaScript, HTML, CSS)
  • Software libraries (Google Protocol Buffers, ZeroMQ, FastAPI, pytest, React, Tailwind)
  • Software tools (AWS, Vim, CMake, GDB)

Your working location will be fully on-site in State College, PA. Questions about work flexibility should be discussed with the hiring manager during interviews.
This role requires periodic travel required for field testing with small research teams
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Software (ARL) - Senior Professional, this position requires:Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science14+ years of relevant experienceRequired Certifications:NoneIf filled as Research and Development Engineer - Software (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires:Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science5+ years of relevant experienceRequired 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 Intel Community (IC), and other federal government customers.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our website at www.arl.psu.edu
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL):Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $121,704.00 - $231,000.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
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.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
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