New

Division Head - Computational Fluid Dynamics (FACULTY)

The Pennsylvania State University
remote work
United States, Pennsylvania, University Park
201 Old Main (Show on map)
Jul 10, 2026
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, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants. POSITION SPECIFICS We are searching for aDivision Head for the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Division in the Fluid Dynamics and Acoustics Office (FDAO) at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. The CFD Division Head will lead a premier group of approximately fifteen of engineers and research faculty in meeting the mission of bringing state-of-the-technology tools, talent and leading-edge computational fluid dynamics to our DoD and industrial sponsors. The Division Head, along with immediate reports, will develop and mature business relationships and programs with other ARL offices, industry, and government sponsors. This critical role requires a blend of technical mastery in fluid dynamics, technical management, and personnel management in a mission-focused environment.This position may be filled as either a Research and Development Engineer or a non-tenure Research Faculty. ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply. You will: Lead and perform design and performance support analyses, using in-house and commercial CFD tools, for a broad range of applications, including undersea vehicles and propulsion, coupled hydrodynamics/hydroacoustics, low-speed and high-speed aerodynamics, and complex multi-physics systems Lead technical developments and improvements in field of Computational Fluid Dynamics including but limited to code development, V&V, and applications in new and evolving tools and methodologies to solve complex flows. Projects may include but not limited to cavitation and multiphase flows, vehicle maneuvering, turbomachinery, fluid-structure/fluid-acoustic interactions, drag reduction, signatures, and code optimization for modern HPC systems Provide technical oversight of complex simulations and interface across the organization to ensure high quality research output Perform organizational leadership to the CFD Division, to include personnel management, recruitment, development, and retention of employees Additional responsibilities for higher-level position includes: Work with FDAO management team and other ARL offices to build the research portfolio, improve technical capabilities, and enhance cross discipline cooperation and collaboration Non-tenure faculty rank will be commensurate with education level and experience. Required Skills/Experience areas include: Master's degree or higher in an Engineering or Science discipline or higher plus ten years of related experience Past success as a Principal Investigator in this field Strong research track record of computational fluid dynamics with a focus in hydromechanics, hydroacoustics, maneuvering and controls, propulsion systems or related discipline Previous success managing people with supervisory experience Excellent verbal and written communication skills with past success in writing white papers or reports Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Top Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility Preferred Skills/Experience areas include: Successful history of proposed and awarded research projects evidenced through securing external research funding Demonstrated leadership of multi-discipline research projects Expert-level knowledge of high-performance computing architectures and information systems Experience with STAR-CCM+ Fully on-site located in State College, PA but, options exist for hybrid of on-site/work from home based on project-dependent ability. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations. 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).FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our website atwww.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. BENEFITS Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans. 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 ourBenefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral 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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