Mechanical Engineer

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to join the SERP Division in State College, PA. The role focuses on developing hardware and embedded systems for defense-related projects in a shipyard/depot environment.

Work will emphasize research, prototyping, testing, and transition of concepts into operational capabilities. On-site duties in State College, PA are required, with DoD SkillBridge partner status noted for transitioning military members.

Qualifications

• Past success designing, installing, and debugging automation and control systems in the field
• Willingness to learn new tools and technologies
• Experience collaborating in multi-disciplinary, team-oriented cultures

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent and collaborative research, development, testing, and evaluation activities for national security missions
• Plan, perform, and lead studies, modeling, simulation, and prototype demonstrations
• Design, develop, and evaluate hardware, embedded systems, sensors, and related tech
• Apply systems engineering across the project lifecycle including requirements, design trades, integration, risk management
• Prepare technical reports, briefs, and sponsor deliverables documenting methods and findings
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to accomplish program objectives
• Ensure activities comply with sponsor requirements, standards, and security procedures
• Mentor junior engineers and support personnel

Skills

Automation & control systems

Learning new tools

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Job description

We are searching for a motivated and inquisitive Mechanical Engineer to join our Specialized Hardware and Rapid Prototyping Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. Lifecycle Engineering specializes in developing tangible solutions to maintenance and manufacturing problems in a shipyard/depot level environment. The mission of the Systems Engineering and Rapid Prototyping (SERP) Division is to provide full spectrum support for the research, evaluation, development, rapid prototyping, manufacturing, fielding, and testing of complex systems which support the warfighter and our nation’s defense. We support the mission of SERP by executing the research, design and application of engineering development and manufacturing methodologies supporting the strategic advancement of warfighter capability at the speed of relevance.

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

You Will:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research, development, testing, and evaluation activities to solve complex scientific and engineering challenges supporting the Navy, the Intel Community (IC), and other sponsors and national security missions
• Investigate, evaluate, and apply established and emerging engineering principles, scientific methodologies, and advanced technologies to develop innovative technical solutions
• Plan, perform, and lead analytical studies, modeling and simulation, laboratory experimentation, field testing, and prototype demonstrations to validate engineering concepts and system performance
• Design, develop, integrate, analyze, and evaluate complex hardware, software, embedded systems, sensors, communications systems, electromechanical systems, or other mission-critical technologies within assigned technical disciplines
• Apply systems engineering principles throughout the project lifecycle, including requirements development, architecture definition, design trade studies, integration, verification, validation, risk management, and configuration management
• Develop experimental plans, test procedures, data collection methodologies, and performance metrics; analyze results to identify technical issues, validate assumptions, and recommend design improvements
• Support development of advanced prototypes and transition technologies from research concepts into operational capabilities for government sponsors
• Prepare technical reports, engineering analyses, research publications, white papers, proposals, briefings, and sponsor deliverables documenting research methods, technical findings, and program status
• Present technical information and research results to sponsors, program managers, technical review boards, and other internal and external stakeholders
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, software developers, technicians, and external research partners to accomplish program objectives
• Ensure engineering activities comply with applicable sponsor requirements, engineering standards, quality requirements, cybersecurity policies, export control regulations, information assurance requirements, and laboratory security procedures
• Support research conducted within Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified environments while safeguarding sensitive technical information and government-furnished data
• Manage technical tasks and engineering projects of varying size and complexity, including responsibility for technical performance, schedules, budgets, deliverables, and risk management
• Participate in technology transition activities, including system integration, operational demonstrations, customer evaluations, manufacturing support, and field implementation
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies to improve program execution, system performance, reliability, maintainability, and mission effectiveness
• Initiate and contribute to business development activities through technical concept development, customer engagement, proposal preparation, Independent Research and Development (IRAD) initiatives, and strategic technology planning
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior engineers, engineering technologists, engineering support personnel, interns, and students
• Maintain technical expertise through continued professional development, participation in technical working groups, awareness of emerging technologies, and engagement with the defense research community

Required skills/experience areas include:

• Past success designing, installing, and debugging automation and control systems in the field, including upgrading legacy hardware to modern standards
• Willingness to learn new tools and technologies
• Success in environments where various forms of communication and organizational skills were crucial to be effective and where problems are not initially defined
• Experience collaborating in multi-disciplinary, team-oriented cultures

Preferred skills/experience areas include:

• Professional Engineering license
• Familiarity with integrating various analog and digital sensing technologies
• Previous Navy, IC, and other federal government customer exposure
• Leading multi-disciplinary research engineers
• 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

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