Mechanical Research and Development Engineer

Penn State University; Ferguson Township (PA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn State University’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) in State College, PA seeks Mechanical Engineers for the Deployables and Undersea Connectivity (DUC) Department. The role focuses on designing, analyzing, building, and testing mechanical components for undersea applications on-site with periodic travel to remote locations.

Candidates should have a Bachelor’s in Engineering or Science and 5+ years of relevant experience, with NDA/clearance eligibility and strong skills in CAD, FEA, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Science is required.
• 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Required Certifications: None
• Security clearance eligibility at Secret level or higher may be required.
• Background checks may be required by university policy.

Responsibilities

• Analyze requirements, identify problems, and develop innovative solutions.
• Design structures, mechanisms, actuation systems, and bearing systems.
• Work with drafting to create and approve drawings.
• Develop assembly and test procedures.
• Work with technicians to perform assembly and testing of systems and subsystems.
• Support on-site field testing.
• Meet with sponsors, faculty and staff engineers to define task requirements and schedule constraints.
• Communicate with Principal Investigators and project managers to provide progress reports.
• Facilitate identification of resources needed to accomplish the task/project.
• Develop and build mechanical testing methods and laboratory experiments (higher-level).
• Mentor less experienced staff (higher-level).
• Design and perform modeling, subsystem integration, or interface analysis (higher-level).

Skills

GD&T (ANSI Y14.5)

Abaqus / FEA

Multi-material assemblies

3D CAD (Siemens NX)

Machined components design

Read/interpret drawings

Free-body diagrams / hand calculations

Test plans & procedures

Education

Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science

Tools

Siemens NX

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

Your working location will be fully on-site in State College, PA. This position will require periodic travel to remote locations.

We are searching for Mechanical Engineers to join our Deployables and Undersea Connectivity (DUC) Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. The mission of the DUC Department is to develop and mature technical methods and devices to connect platforms in the undersea domain, as well as, bridge to above the sea-air boundary, support tethered and untethered communication techniques between stationary or moving undersea platforms, and employ these capabilities to solve the most challenging undersea communications problems. Primary tasking will be to design, analyze, build, and test mechanical components and systems for undersea applications.

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

You will:

• Analyze requirements, identify problems, and develop innovative solutions
• Design structures, mechanisms, actuation systems, and bearing systems
• Work with drafting to create and approve drawings
• Develop assembly and test procedures
• Work with technicians to perform assembly and testing of systems and subsystems
• Support on-site field testing
• Meet with sponsors, faculty and staff engineers to define the scope of task requirements and schedule constraints
• Communicate with Principal Investigators (PI's) and project managers to provide progress reports
• Facilitate the identification of resources needed to accomplish the task/project

Additional responsibilities for higher-level position may include:

• Develop and build mechanical testing methods and laboratory experiments
• Mentor less experience staff
• Design and perform modeling, subsystem integration, or interface analysis

Required Skills/Experience areas include:

• Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T ANSI Y14.5)
• Abaqus or similar advanced FEA software
• Past success with multi‑material assemblies and integrated system architectures
• 3D CAD design and engineering drawing development (Siemens NX preferred)
• Design of machined components and subsystems
• Read and interpret mechanical drawings
• Completing free-body diagrams; using hand calculations to calculate forces and resultant stresses on structures
• Developing test plans and procedures and strong written communication skills
• Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required

Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:

• Support field testing of vehicles and test platforms which could include travel to support test events.
• Knowledge of structural or thermal finite element analysis
• Packaging of electromechanical assemblies
• Ability to learn and work across disciplines (mechanical, electrical, software, logistics) in a small team environment of engineers, technicians, and US military personnel
• Attention to detail.
• Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

If filled as R&D Engineer - Mechanical (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires:

• Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
• 5+ years of relevant experience
• Required Certifications: None

If filled as R&D Engineer - Mechanical (ARL) - Intermediate Professional, this position requires:

• Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
• 2+ years of relevant experience
• Required Certifications: None

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our website at www.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. AR