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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 Battery Systems Engineering Support Specialist Interns to join our Battery Technology Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University. You will design, develop, and tests prototype battery systems for high power and high energy electric propulsion underwater vehicles. 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 Intel Community (IC).
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
Design and prototype by creating new module and pack designs or improving existing ones for enhanced performance or safety
Evaluate new battery chemistries by scouting and assessing innovative and emerging technologies through literature reviews, external partnerships, and competitive benchmarking
Design comprehensive experiments and testing protocols (performance, cycle life, thermal stability, electrical stress, vibration) in a lab environment
Collect, analyze, and interpret large sets of data to develop models, evaluate performance, identify failure modes, and determine root causes of issues
Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, and fabrication teams to ensure seamless integration of battery components into underwater electric vehicles
Prepare detailed technical reports, schematics, design documentation, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and validation plans
Preferred Degrees: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering
Your working location will be fully on-site located in State College, PA. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
All positions at ARL require candidates to possess the ability to obtain a government security clearance; you will be notified during the interview process if this position is subject to a government background investigation. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply. Employment with the ARL will require successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.
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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Skills Required
- U.S. citizenship (must be a U.S. citizen to apply)
- Ability to obtain government security clearance
- Successful completion of background check(s) per University policies
- Successful completion of pre-employment drug screen
- Ability to work fully on-site in State College, PA
- Preferred degree: Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, or Chemical Engineering
- Experience or coursework in battery systems design, prototyping, testing, and data analysis
- Ability to prepare technical reports, schematics, SOPs, and validation plans
Penn State University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Penn State University and has not been reviewed or approved by Penn State University.
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Retirement Support — Employer contributions to SERS and the TIAA Alternate Plan are described as significant, with supplemental retirement options available. Feedback suggests these choices and contributions create strong long‑term value.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Full‑time employees accrue over 24 sick and vacation days annually, with additional university holidays and a winter break. Feedback suggests this depth of leave supports work–life balance.
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Inclusive Benefits Coverage — A 75% tuition discount extends to employees, spouses, and dependent children up to age 26 across resident instruction, World Campus, and Penn College courses. Feedback suggests this broad eligibility meaningfully enhances total rewards, especially for families.
Penn State University Insights
What We Do
There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our nearly 88,000 students and 17,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom—it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world. From access to state-of-the-art resources to interdisciplinary pursuits in collaborative atmospheres, a Penn State degree is more than an education. The experiences and knowledge gained here will form the foundation for the lives our students build. Their contributions to the world begin with a Penn State degree. We Are Penn State.
