Electrical Research and Development Engineer

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University; University Park (TX); On-site; USD 109,300 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Retirement plans

Paid time off

75% tuition discount for employees and selected family members

Job summary

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University is seeking a proactive Electrical Research and Development Engineer for their Agile Systems Engineering Department. This role involves interfacing with various stakeholders, system design, and technical mentorship.

Candidates should possess a strong technical background, excellent communication skills, and significant experience in engineering. The position offers a competitive salary range from $109,300 to $191,000 and a robust benefits package, including a generous tuition discount for employees and family.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Science with relevant experience (14+ years for Senior Professional or 5+ years for Advanced Professional).
• Experience in controls, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Model-Based Systems Engineering training and experience.

Responsibilities

• Interface with stakeholders to understand requirements and ensure project success.
• Work closely with senior engineers and subject matter experts.
• Define system control and data architectures.

Skills

Technical background in Electrical or Systems Engineering

Excellent communication, writing, and presentation skills

Experience with detailed design and implementation of electrical circuits, software, and firmware

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Science

Tools

Standard laboratory test equipment (e.g., oscilloscopes, function generators)

Job description

Position Overview

We are searching for a highly motivated, self‑starting Electrical Research and Development Engineer to join our Agile Systems Engineering (ASE) Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. The ASE Department mission is to support research, design and application of engineering development methodologies supporting the strategic advancement of warfighter capability at the speed of relevance.

Responsibilities

• Interface with project stakeholders to understand their requirements and ensure project success.
• Work closely with senior engineers and subject matter experts.
• Define system control and data architectures.
• Perform systems engineering activities spanning the typical DoD product development lifecycle.
• Travel for stakeholder engagements as needed.

Additional responsibilities for higher level position

• Indirect supervision and mentorship of other engineers.
• Monitoring and tracking of funding and budgets.
• Work independently on moderately complex work assignments, review progress, and evaluate results.
• Communicate with external audiences for scheduling/coordination.
• Communicate with external audiences for business purposes.

Required Skills / Experience

• Technical background in Electrical or Systems Engineering.
• Previous experience with detailed design and implementation of electrical circuits, software, and firmware.
• Excellent communication, writing, and presentation skills.

Preferred Skills / Experience

• Controls, simulation, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop test set development and operation.
• Hands‑on experience with electrical design, simulation, and test.
• Experience working with standard laboratory test equipment such as oscilloscopes and function generators.
• Model Based Systems Engineering training and experience.
• Systems engineering fundamentals and project management.
• Experience contributing as a team player.
• Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher.

Education and Experience

Minimum requirements vary by level.

• Senior Professional: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Science and 14+ years of relevant experience.
• Advanced Professional: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Science and 5+ years of relevant experience.

Location

Fully on‑site in State College, PA.

Salary & Benefits

The salary range for this position is $109,300.00 – $191,000.00. The proposed salary range may be impacted by geographic differential. Penn State provides a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement plans, paid time off, and a 75% tuition discount for employees and selected family members.

Security Clearance & Background Check

The position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. citizen security clearance. A background investigation may be required during the interview process. Successful completion of a pre‑employment drug screen is required.

EEO Statement

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer 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 unable to use the online application process due to an impairment or disability, contact 814-865-1473.