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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.
POSITION SPECIFICS
The Mechanical Systems & Design Department under the Engineering Systems Research and Development Division within the Undersea Systems Office (USO) of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University is seeking motivated and talented Mechanical Engineers whose primary tasking will be to design, analyze, build, and test mechanical hardware for undersea applications. Candidates must be able to demonstrate proficient and comprehensive knowledge of the principles and best practices of mechanical design.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You Will:
Analyze requirements, identify problems, and develop innovative solution concepts
Design structures, mechanisms, actuation systems, and bearing systems
Work with drafting to create and approve drawings
Develop assembly and test procedures
Work with technicians to perform assembly and testing of systems and subsystems
Support field testing
Required skills/experiences include:
3D CAD design and engineering drawing development (Siemens NX preferred)
Read and interpret mechanical drawings
Completing free body diagrams; using hand calculations to calculate forces and resultant stresses on structures
Development of test plans and procedures
Effective verbal and written communication and presentation skills
Current active Secret level clearance, or higher
Preferred experience includes:
Structural or thermal finite element analysis
Your working locations 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.
Candidate may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 2+ 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 Department of Defense (DoD), and the Intel Community (IC).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our web site 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 $105,900.00 - $174,708.00.
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.
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Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Science
- 2+ years of relevant experience
- 3D CAD design and engineering drawing development
- Siemens NX
- Read and interpret mechanical drawings
- Complete free body diagrams and hand calculations for forces and stresses
- Develop test plans and procedures
- Effective verbal and written communication and presentation skills
- Current active Secret level clearance or higher
- U.S. citizenship
- Structural or thermal finite element analysis
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.
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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.
