Electrical Engineering Support Specialist

Penn State University; University Park (TX); On-site; USD 51,504 - 113,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Tuition discount 75%

Job summary

Penn State University ARL's EMDD seeks an Electrical Engineering Support Specialist to support R&D in electronic materials processing, testing, device fabrication, and characterization on-site in State College, PA.

The role involves materials prep, polishing, device fabrication in cleanroom, and electrical testing, with safety-conscious operations and collaboration in a fast-paced team environment.

Qualifications

• Associate degree with relevant experience required for Senior/Advanced/Intermediate Professional levels.

Responsibilities

• Characterize materials using microscopy, spectroscopy, and diffraction techniques.
• Prepare and polish samples for analysis.
• Operate furnaces/reactors and monitor growth and synthesis processes.
• Fabricate and test devices in a cleanroom environment.
• Perform electrical characterization and device testing.
• Maintain routine equipment and safety compliance.
• Provide input on processing approaches and conditions.
• Ensure safe operation and adherence to safety standards.

Skills

Sample preparation

Materials characterization

Laboratory safety

Documentation

Microsoft Office

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Associate Degree + 6+ years experience

Associate Degree + 4+ years

Associate Degree + 2+ years

Tools

OM

SEM

EDS

XRD

AFM

Vacuum systems

Job description

Position Specifics

We are searching for an Electrical Engineering Support Specialist for the Electronic Materials and Devices Department (EMDD) at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. EMDD is a vertically integrated lab with key focus areas including wide/ultrawide bandgap (WBG/UWBG) semiconductors, sensors, ceramics, laser processing, and additive manufacturing (AM). This position will directly support research and development (R&D) efforts in the areas of electronic materials processing, testing/characterization, semiconductor device fabrication, sample preparation, polishing, and materials growth/synthesis.

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

Your working location will be fully on-site, located in State College, PA.

Responsibilities

• Conduct materials characterization (e.g., microscopy, spectroscopy, x‑ray diffraction)
• Prepare and polish samples
• Operate furnaces/reactors; monitor materials growth and synthesis processes
• Perform device fabrication in a cleanroom environment
• Carry out electrical characterization and device testing
• Support routine equipment maintenance
• Provide input on technical approaches and processing conditions
• Ensure equipment is operated safely and in compliance with safety standards

Required Skills / Experience

• Sample preparation and materials characterization techniques
• Laboratory safety practices, including PPE, chemical handling, waste disposal, etc.
• Success maintaining organized and detailed documentation
• Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Ability to express ideas successfully to drive understanding
• Willingness to work in a fast‑paced team environment

Preferred Skills / Experience

• OM, SEM, EDS, XRD, AFM, etc.
• Lithography, evaporation, sputtering, dry etching, wet etching, or other device processing steps in a cleanroom
• Vacuum systems/hardware and familiarity with high‑temperature crystal growth equipment
• Semiconductor devices and methods
• Additive manufacturing/3D printing tools
• CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, etc.)
• Current eligibility for access to classified information at Secret level or higher and may be subject to a background investigation for clearance upgrade

Minimum Education and Experience

Associate Degree 6+ years of relevant experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience) — required for Senior Professional level.

Associate Degree 4+ years of relevant experience – for Advanced Professional level.

Associate Degree 2+ years of relevant experience – for Intermediate Professional level.

Required Certifications: None.

Security and Clearance

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. 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. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.

Salary & Benefits

Salary range: $51,504.00 – $113,100.00.

Benefits: competitive medical, dental, vision coverage; robust retirement plans; paid time off (holidays, vacation, sick time); 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible spouses/children.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities 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 the online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814‑865‑1473.