- 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.
POSITION SPECIFICS
Your working location will be fully on-site located in State College, PA. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations.
We are searching for a highly motivated Engineering Technologist, Mechanical to join the Materials for Extreme Environments Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. The Materials for Extreme Environments Department develops and evaluates advanced materials, manufacturing processes, and engineering solutions for demanding operational environments. This role will apply established engineering principles and practical technical knowledge to support materials processing, prototype development, experimental equipment, testing, and technology transition. The successful candidate will help translate engineering concepts into functional prototypes, test articles, experimental systems, and validated technical solutions for the U.S. military, and other government customers.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
- Collaborate with engineering staff to plan and execute materials-processing, prototyping, integration, and testing activities
- Develop, build, modify, and evaluate experimental equipment, test fixtures, prototypes, and process hardware
- Operate and support coating, heat-treatment, surface-preparation, manufacturing, and materials-testing equipment
- Develop and interpret engineering drawings, equipment layouts, test procedures, process documentation, and technical specifications
- Conduct and document mechanical, thermal, environmental, and surface-property testing
- Configure sensors, vacuum hardware, compressed-gas systems, pumps, controls, and data-acquisition equipment
- Support machining, welding, additive manufacturing, fabrication, and mechanical assembly activities
- Perform materials characterization using microscopy, spectroscopy, profilometry, and other analytical methods
- Analyze test results and recommend practical improvements to equipment, processes, fixtures, and experimental methods
- Troubleshoot mechanical, process, instrumentation, and equipment-related problems
- Maintain proper documentation and traceability of engineering artifacts, test data, and technical deliverables
- Support prototype demonstrations, customer evaluations, and technology-transition activities
- Prepare technical reports, presentations, drawings, procedures, and other project documentation
Additional responsibilities for higher-level position includes:
- Maintain current knowledge of mechanical design methods, fabrication techniques, materials, test equipment, and emerging engineering technologies applicable to the discipline
- Ensure proper documentation, traceability, and configuration control of engineering artifacts, test data, and technical deliverables in accordance with organizational and sponsor requirements
- Support secure handling of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), Export-Controlled Information, and other sensitive technical data throughout design, fabrication, and testing activities
- Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering processes, prototyping methods, and test capabilities in support of mission requirements
- May provide supervision or technical direction to lower-level engineering staff, including task assignment, mentoring, and performance input
Required Skills/Experience areas include:
- Applying mechanical engineering or engineering technology principles to design, fabrication, testing, or manufacturing activities
- Connecting engineering concepts with hands-on implementation and practical problem-solving
- Developing or interpreting technical drawings, procedures, specifications, or equipment documentation
- Demonstrated ability to solve technical problems using organized and logical methods
- Collect, organize, and interpret technical data
- Express technical ideas successfully in verbal and written form
- Experience collaborating in multi-disciplinary, team-oriented cultures
Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:
- Mechanical engineering technology, manufacturing engineering technology, electromechanical engineering technology, materials engineering technology, or a related discipline
- Materials processing, coatings, surface preparation, heat treatment, additive manufacturing, machining, or welding
- Design and fabrication of mechanical fixtures, prototypes, or experimental equipment
- Computer-aided design, data-acquisition, engineering analysis, or instrumentation software
- Mechanical testing, materials characterization, or environmental testing
- Furnaces, vacuum systems, compressed-gas systems, pumps, sensors, controls, or laboratory instrumentation
- ASTM, military, or industry test standards
- 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 Engineering Technologist, Mechanical (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required Certifications: None If filled as Engineering Technologist, Mechanical (ARL) - Intermediate Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree 1+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None
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.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $75,408.00 - $132,204.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
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.
Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster
PA State Labor Law Poster
Penn State Policies
Copyright Information
Hotlines
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree and at least 1 year of relevant experience for the Intermediate Professional level
- Bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years of relevant experience for the Advanced Professional level
- Ability to apply mechanical engineering or engineering technology principles to design, fabrication, testing, or manufacturing
- Ability to develop or interpret technical drawings, procedures, specifications, or equipment documentation
- Ability to solve technical problems using organized and logical methods
- Ability to collect, organize, and interpret technical data
- Strong verbal and written technical communication skills
- Experience collaborating in multidisciplinary, team-oriented environments
- U.S. citizenship
- Eligibility to obtain a government security clearance
- Successful completion of required background checks
- Mechanical, manufacturing, electromechanical, materials engineering technology, or related discipline
- Experience with materials processing, coatings, surface preparation, heat treatment, additive manufacturing, machining, or welding
- Experience designing and fabricating mechanical fixtures, prototypes, or experimental equipment
- Experience with CAD, data acquisition, engineering analysis, or instrumentation software
- Experience with mechanical, materials characterization, or environmental testing
- Experience with furnaces, vacuum systems, compressed-gas systems, pumps, sensors, controls, or laboratory instrumentation
- Knowledge of ASTM, military, or industry test standards
- Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
