R&D Engineering Intern

Penn State University; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn State University’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) invites rising senior engineering students to join the FORGE internship in Summer 2027, preparing for roles in national security. The program emphasizes hands-on lab work, data analysis, and collaboration with program sponsors.

Selected students will work on engineering testing, data display, and software tools in a laboratory setting, with on-site duties in State College, PA and potential government clearance processes.

Qualifications

• Must be a rising senior.
• U.S. citizen to apply.
• Pre-employment drug screen may be required.

Responsibilities

• Support for engineering testing, data analysis, and data display.
• Hands-on work in a laboratory environment.
• Use of multiple computing languages, analysis tools, simulations, measurements.
• Networking with program sponsors.

Job description

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

Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) is looking for enterprising students to participate in a Summer 2027 engineering undergraduate internship, Fostering Opportunities in Research & Government Engineering (FORGE). The goal of the FORGE – ARL program is to identify rising seniors, graduating in May 2028, with interest in full-time employment at ARL. Students will conduct research to enhance their readiness for successful and significant careers in national security.

Typical duties may include:

• Support for engineering testing, data analysis, and data display
• Hands-on work in a laboratory environment
• Use of multiple computing languages, analysis tools, simulations, measurements
• Networking with program sponsors

Students studying the following disciplines are encouraged to apply:

• Mechanical Engineering with interest in robotics programming
• Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering with interest in Aeroacoustics, AI for data analysis, fluid measurement techniques, or numerical methods
• Mechanical, Aerospace, or Chemical Engineer with a focus in thermodynamics, structural design, or advanced materials
• Mechanical, Aerospace, Chemical, or related Engineering discipline with a focus in forward-thinking research and development (experimental or computational)
• Electrical Engineer with an interest in signal processing
• Electrical, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineers with an interest in guidance and control, and programing experience
• Industrial Engineering or Math with interest in operations research and modeling of dynamic systems
• Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or Computer Science with an interest in applied mathematics and software engineering for a future in advanced signal processing, embedded software development, and hardware design
• Information Science and Technology or Computer Science with interest in system integration
• Mechanical or Chemical Engineering with interest in thermodynamics, structural design, or advanced materials

You must be a rising senior. You may be subject to a government security investigation, and you must be a U.S. citizen to apply. Employment with the ARL will require successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.

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

ARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Intelligence Community (IC).

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.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

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

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