Advanced Manufacturing Engineer

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University; University Park (AL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative research laboratory is seeking an Advanced Manufacturing Engineer to join its Intelligent Manufacturing team. This role is pivotal in developing and optimizing manufacturing processes that transition prototypes into full-rate production, directly impacting national security. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to enhance production efficiency and ensure high-quality outputs. If you are passionate about solving complex manufacturing challenges and driving technological advancements, this opportunity offers a dynamic environment to make a significant impact.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in engineering or science discipline required.
• 14 years of related experience needed for this role.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize manufacturing processes for full-rate production.
• Collaborate with teams to improve manufacturability and production workflows.
• Identify manufacturability constraints early in product development.

Skills

Manufacturing process development

Design for Manufacturability (DFM)

Systems Engineering principles

Problem-solving skills

Manufacturing documentation

CAD and CAM software

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma methodologies

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD software

CAM software

ERP software

MES software

Job description

Join to apply for the Advanced Manufacturing Engineer role at The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University.

We are seeking a talented, experienced, and highly motivated Advanced Manufacturing Engineer to join the Intelligent Manufacturing and Operations Engineering team of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. 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). In this role, you will be responsible for developing and optimizing manufacturing processes, ensuring seamless transitions from prototype to full-rate production, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive efficient and cost-effective manufacturing solutions for complex state-of-the-art weapon systems. Your work will directly impact the development and production of high-quality products, ensuring they meet performance, quality, cost, and scalability requirements.

As a team member, you will work closely with design, engineering, and production teams to improve manufacturability, optimize production workflows, and support prototype product development. Your expertise will help bridge the gap between research and real-world defense applications, ensuring rapid, scalable, and high-quality manufacturing solutions. A key focus of this role is reducing prototype development time by identifying manufacturability constraints early, integrating design feedback efficiently, and implementing rapid iteration strategies. Your contributions will accelerate the transition from concept to functional prototypes while maintaining high-quality and performance standards.

Joining ARL means being part of a cutting-edge research environment that directly impacts national security. If you thrive in solving complex manufacturing challenges and working with multidisciplinary teams, we encourage you to apply.

ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

You will:

1. Develop and optimize manufacturing processes, including scaling production from prototype to full-rate manufacturing using standard and cutting edge industry processes and production equipment.
2. Work with design/build teams to ensure Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles are applied.
3. Plan and implement manufacturing strategies with a focus on reducing development time and improving production efficiency.
4. Identify and mitigate manufacturing risks during early-stage product development.
5. Assist in the selection of manufacturing equipment, tooling, and materials to support rapid prototyping.
6. Engage with government Department of Defense (DoD) customers to define requirements, align objectives, and provide technical insights for complex, next-generation weapon systems.
7. Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance manufacturing capabilities and reduce lead times.
8. Support root cause analysis and problem-solving for production challenges.
9. Work within cross-functional teams to align manufacturing objectives with system requirements.
10. Contribute to proposal writing and technical reporting to secure funding and support research initiatives.

This position can be filled at multiple levels depending on education and experience. A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in an engineering or science discipline and 14 years’ related experience is required. Additional education and/or experience are needed for higher level positions. A degree in Industrial Engineering or Mechanical Engineering is preferred.

Additional responsibilities of a higher level may include:

1. Leading large-scale manufacturing projects and process improvement initiatives.
2. Developing advanced methodologies for high-efficiency production processes.
3. Mentoring junior engineers and providing technical leadership of strategic manufacturing initiatives.
4. Driving automation and digital manufacturing initiatives.

Required skills/experience areas include:

1. Strong understanding of manufacturing process development and optimization.
2. Experience with Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles.
3. Knowledge and application of Systems Engineering principles.
4. Manufacturing planning for prototype and full-scale production.
5. Ability to collaborate in a cross-functional, team-oriented environment.
6. Strong problem-solving skills and analytical mindset.
7. Experience with manufacturing process documentation and quality control.
8. Familiarity with CAD and CAM software for manufacturing applications.
9. Knowledge and experience with DoD weapon system acquisition processes and current trends.
10. Understanding of design artifacts such as models and drawings, and the ability to interpret GD&T.
11. Design of full-scale manufacturing systems including robotics, automation, material handling, test, and inspection.

Preferred skills and experience include:

1. Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies.
2. Experience with automation and digital manufacturing technologies.
3. Understanding of Product Lifecycle Management and configuration management.
4. Knowledge of material science, electronics fabrication, and advanced manufacturing techniques.
5. ERP and MES software experience.
6. Hands-on experience with CNC machining, additive manufacturing, or other production technologies.
7. Experience with cost analysis and production efficiency improvements.
8. Production system modeling & simulation.
9. Experience establishing facility Digital Twins.
10. Knowledge of smart manufacturing techniques, including AI-driven process optimization, IoT, and data analytics.

Your working location will be on-site in State College, PA, with periodic travel required. You will be subject to a government security investigation, and must be a U.S. citizen. Employment requires a pre-employment drug screen. For more information, visit www.arl.psu.edu.