R&D Engineer Intern

Penn State University; State College (Centre County); Hybrid; USD 24,796 - 38,572; Part time

Job summary

Penn State University in State College, PA (on-site with possible hybrid options to Reston, VA) offers a part-time R&D Engineer Intern role for undergraduate students. You will research adversarial tactics, develop automation scripts, and design experiments to drill into system vulnerabilities, sharing results with sponsors and teams.

The internship emphasizes Linux proficiency, programming (C, Python, Bash, PowerShell), and collaboration across disciplines, with a strong focus on learning and

Qualifications

• Familiarity with basic system vulnerability and exploitation concepts.
• Basic knowledge of engineering concepts and scientific method.
• Basic proficiency in Linux-based environments.
• Programming and scripting in C, Python, Bash, and PowerShell.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary, team-based settings.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to new tools and technologies.

Responsibilities

• Research and develop adversarial TTPs to assess system vulnerabilities.
• Automate processes with scripts and small applications.
• Design experiments and configure test environments.
• Conduct experiments and demonstrations, testing representative systems.
• Collect, analyze, and report experimental results; document findings.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to solve engineering challenges.
• Develop and prototype solutions for critical applications; present findings.

Skills

Vulnerability concepts

Engineering concepts

Linux proficiency

Programming: C, Python, Bash, PowerPS

MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Team collaboration

Willingness to learn

Education

Undergraduate student

Tools

Linux

Python

PowerShell

Bash

Job description

## R&D Engineer InternApplylocations: Penn State University Park: Reston, VAtime type: Part timeposted on: Posted Todayjob requisition id: REQ\_0000079178# **APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:*** ## CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.* ## CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.* ## If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants. **Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.** **JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS**We are searching for a motivated undergraduate student to join the Cyberspace Operations Research Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. This internship will concentrate on researching and developing adversarial tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to conduct system vulnerability assessments and enable security hardening support to various sponsors.**Typical focus areas include:*** Research state-of-the-art techniques for vulnerability detection, system exploitation, and technical mitigations* Develop scripts and applications to automate processes* Design experiments and set up test environments* Conduct experiments and execute demonstrations* Testing of representative systems under simulated real-world conditions* Data collection, analysis, and reporting of experimental results (Collect data, analyze and report experimental results)* Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to solve engineering challenges* Develop and optimize prototypes for critical applications* Research and document emerging technologies* Participate in technical presentations and discussions**Interest skills and experience areas include:*** Familiarity with basic system vulnerability and exploitation concepts* Basic knowledge of engineering concepts and the scientific method* Basic proficiency in Linux-based environments* Proficiency in programming and scripting languages (C, Python, bash, PowerShell)* Proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint* Success in environments where various forms of communication and organizational skills were crucial to be effective* Experience collaborating in multi-disciplinary, team-oriented cultures* Willingness to learn and adapt to new tools, techniques, and technologiesYou will work up to 20 hours/week during the fall and spring semesters and have the opportunity to work up to 40 hours/week over the summer. This is a paid internship opportunity, and location will be fully on-site located in State College, PA, or Reston, VA, but options exist for hybrid of on-site/work from home based on project-dependent ability. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process. Relocation and housing are not provided.ARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Intel Community (IC), and other federal government customers.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. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.