Defense R&D Structural Engineer — FEA & CAD

The Pennsylvania State University; Ferguson Township (PA); On-site; USD 106,000 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition discount 75%

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University is seeking highly motivated Mechanical Engineers with strong structural analysis expertise to join the ARL Energy Science and Power Systems Division at Penn State in State College, PA. On-site position supporting DoD-related research and collaborations across R&D, manufacturing, and testing teams.

The role emphasizes FEA-driven design, prototype support, and continuous improvement, with opportunities for large-scale impact in national security projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline.
• Strong understanding of finite element analysis (FEA) principles and analytical tools used in structural analysis.
• Structural analysis and mechanical design principles.
• Finite Element Analysis (ANSYS, Abaqus, SolidWorks Simulation, etc.).
• CAD software (Unigraphics, Siemens NX, SolidWorks, Creo, or similar).
• Ability to express ideas successfully to drive understanding.
• Past success in writing white papers or reports.
• Excellent problem solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform structural analysis using analytical methods and FEA tools to evaluate mechanical components, assemblies, and systems
• Develop, validate, and improve mechanical designs from concept through production
• Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing, and testing teams to resolve structural or mechanical challenges
• Support prototype builds, design reviews, and design-for-manufacturing (DFM) activities
• Identify opportunities for performance improvement, weight reduction, cost reduction, and increased reliability

Skills

FEA principles

ANSYS

Abaqus

SolidWorks Sim

CAD software

Technical communication

Mechanical design

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Unigraphics

Siemens NX

SolidWorks

Creo

Job description

The Pennsylvania State University is seeking highly motivated Mechanical Engineers with strong structural analysis expertise to join the ARL Energy Science and Power Systems Division at Penn State in State College, PA. On-site position supporting DoD-related research and collaborations across R&D, manufacturing, and testing teams.

The role emphasizes FEA-driven design, prototype support, and continuous improvement, with opportunities for large-scale impact in national security projects.